The State Department announced more sanctions against Russia, yesterday, aimed at Russian economic projects in the Arctic, its energy sector and its defense production. This came two days after the Sept. 12 keynote to the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum by Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he said that economic development in Eastern and Northern Russia is the priority for the 21st century.
The new State and Treasury Departments sanctions target over 150 individuals and entities, including in Türkiye, the U.A.E. and Georgia, “in connection with Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine,” said Tony Blinken in a statement issued yesterday. “As part of today’s action, the U.S. government is targeting individuals and entities engaged in sanctions evasion and circumvention, those complicit in furthering Russia’s ability to wage its war against Ukraine, and those responsible for bolstering Russia’s future energy production.”
The targets include more than “70 entities and individuals involved in expanding Russia’s energy production and export capacity, operating in Russia’s metals and mining sectors, and aiding Russian individuals and entities in evading international sanctions,” (in reality, they aren’t “international sanctions” but rather unilateral sanctions imposed by the U.S. and the EU—ed), the statement says. “Additionally, the Department is designating numerous entities producing and repairing Russian weapon systems, including the Kalibr cruise missile used by Russian forces against cities and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, and an individual affiliated with the Wagner Group involved in the shipment of munitions from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to the Russian Federation.
