The U.S. government is imposing new sanctions on oligarchs loyal to the Kremlin for supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Announcing the sanctions, the U.S. Treasury Department said they were imposing a high cost on “those who support President Vladimir Putin’s war.” While innocent people suffer from Russia’s illegal war of aggression, Putin’s allies have enriched themselves and financed a lavish lifestyle, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said.
Among those affected are Putin confidante Andrei Guriev and his son. Explicitly mentioned in the statement was the luxury yacht “Alfa Nero”, which Guriev is said to have bought in 2014 for $120 million. The devices tracking the yacht’s location have reportedly been turned off to prevent it from being seized, the statement said.
The Treasury also said punitive action would be taken against several people, a multinational and a Russian company.
All assets of those affected in the United States will be frozen and U.S. citizens are prohibited from doing business with them. At the same time, the US State Department has imposed entry restrictions on those targeted by sanctions.
Three Ukrainians who work for the Russian occupation forces in southern Ukraine will also be on the blacklist. These are the head of the occupation administration of the Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, his deputy Kirill Stremusov, and the Moscow-appointed mayor of the port city of Mariupol, Konstantin Ivashchenko.
