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US sanctions 300+ entities from China, Russia, Singapore, UAE for supporting Russia’s defence industry
Army soldiers using aerial drone for artillery guidance and scouting view enemy positions in military operation.
The United States has sanctioned nearly 300 companies and individuals from various countries, including China and Russia, for allegedly aiding Russia’s defence industry and helping it evade American sanctions amidst the conflict in Ukraine.
The US Department of the Treasury and the State Department have jointly imposed sanctions on almost 200 entities and over 80 companies to weaken Russia’s ability to continue its military operations in Ukraine.
The targeted entities, located in countries such as Azerbaijan, Belgium, China, Russia, Turkey, the UAE, and Slovakia, are accused of providing Russia with essential technology and equipment from abroad to support its war efforts.
The sanctions were imposed after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised concerns during their visits to China about Beijing’s alleged support for Russia’s defence industry, enabling Moscow to sustain its military actions in Ukraine.
Chinese companies like Finder Technology and Juhang Aviation Technology Shenzhen Co are among those implicated for allegedly exporting drone components and military equipment to Russia. Zhongcheng Heavy Equipment Defense Technology Group Co Ltd has also been accused of supplying equipment to the paramilitary Wagner Group.
The Department of Treasury also sanctioned importers of cotton cellulose and nitrocellulose, crucial precursors needed by Russia for producing gunpowder, rocket propellants, and explosives.
Secretary Yellen had previously warned that facilitating transactions for dual-use goods to Russia’s defence industry could lead to US sanctions.
The State Department also imposed sanctions on four Chinese companies for supporting Russia’s defence industry by supplying critical components to Russian entities under US sanctions. Companies in Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, and Malaysia were also targeted for shipping high-priority items to Moscow. The sanctions were expanded to hinder Russia’s ability to export liquefied natural gas, with vessel operators from Singapore and Hong Kong designated for their involvement in Russia’s Arctic LNG 2 project.
Furthermore, subsidiaries of Russia’s state nuclear power company Rosatom and entities within the Sibanthracite group of companies were targeted. Popular budget airline Pobeda, a subsidiary of Aeroflot, faced sanctions as well. The US sanctions on Arctic LNG 2 reportedly forced Novatek, Russia’s leading LNG producer, to halt production due to a lack of available tankers.
