U.S. Levels New Sanctions on Russian Tech Companies

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Division on Thursday leveled new sanctions on Russian know-how firms and illicit procurement networks that the nation is utilizing to evade present sanctions, increasing the Biden administration’s effort to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine by crippling its economic system.

The brand new measures replicate the problem that the US and its allies proceed to face in implementing restrictions which have been imposed to chop off Russia’s central financial institution, monetary establishments and oligarchs from the worldwide monetary system, and the necessity to disrupt Russian provide chains and efforts to hide transactions.

“Russia not solely continues to violate the sovereignty of Ukraine with its unprovoked aggression, but additionally has escalated its assaults placing civilians and inhabitants facilities,” the Treasury secretary, Janet L. Yellen, mentioned in a press release. “We’ll proceed to focus on Putin’s warfare machine with sanctions from each angle till this mindless warfare of selection is over.”

Among the many 34 organizations and people focused are Serniya and Sertal, Moscow-based firms that illicitly procure dual-use gear and know-how for Russia’s protection sector.

The Treasury Division can also be imposing sanctions on a number of know-how firms that produce laptop {hardware}, software program and microelectronics which can be utilized by Russia’s protection sector. Amongst them is Joint Inventory Firm Mikron, Russia’s largest chip-maker.

Adewale Adeyemo, the deputy Treasury secretary, foreshadowed the sanctions throughout a speech on Tuesday, when he mentioned that Russia’s army industrial sector can be the subsequent to face restrictions.

“We’re planning to focus on further sectors which can be essential to the Kremlin’s capacity to function its warfare machine, the place a lack of entry will in the end undermine Russia’s capacity to construct and keep the instruments of warfare that depend on these inputs,” Mr. Adeyemo mentioned in his speech at Chatham Home, a global affairs suppose tank in London. “Along with sanctioning firms in sectors that allow the Kremlin’s malign actions, we additionally plan to take actions to disrupt their essential provide chains.”