A mural praises the Russian Wagner group and its mercenaries combating in Ukraine on March 30, 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia.
Pierre Crom | Getty Images
WASHINGTON – The Biden administration on Thursday introduced a slew of contemporary sanctions and extra measures concentrating on Russia’s personal navy firm, the Wagner Group, saying it is engaged in an “ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity” in Ukraine, the Central African Republic and Mali.
The Treasury Department recognized the Wagner Group, led by Vladimir Putin crony Yevgeny Prigozhin, as a “significant transnational criminal organization.”
In the Central African Republic and Mali, Treasury mentioned “Wagner personnel have engaged in an ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity, including mass execution, rape, child abductions and physical abuse.” It additionally stands accused of destabilizing governments in Africa and concentrating on girls, kids and different civilians in Ukraine, attacking faculties and hospitals and forcibly relocating civilians, amongst different human rights violations.
Last week, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on the White House that U.S. intelligence estimates point out the Wagner Group has no less than 50,000 personnel in Ukraine, most of them recruited for the struggle from Russian prisons.
White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby (not pictured) presents pictures that allege railcar motion between Russia and North Korea throughout a press briefing on the White House in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2023.
Leah Millis | Reuters
“Our message to any company that is considering providing support to Wagner is simply this, Wagner is a criminal organization that is continuing widespread atrocities and human rights abuses,” Kirby added.
Kirby additionally slammed North Korean weapon deliveries to Russia used by Wagner, together with infantry rockets and missiles.
Thursday’s sanctions on six people and 12 entities additionally goal “the infrastructure that supports battlefield operations in Ukraine, including producers of Russia’s weapons and those administering Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.”
Treasury sanctioned Rustam Nurgaliyevich Minnikhanov, the Russian chairman of the already-sanctioned Tupolev Public Joint Stock Company, for his work in supporting Moscow’s aerospace sector. His spouse, Gulsina Akhatovna Minnikhanova was additionally designated for being the first registered proprietor of most of Minnikhanov’s properties and accepting bribes.
Treasury additionally introduced sanctions in opposition to corporations affiliated with Russia’s protection industrial advanced:
- Russian cargo airline JSC Aviacon Zitotrans for transporting navy tools like rockets, helicopter components and warheads.
- Ural Civil Aviation Factory for repairing unmanned aerial automobiles utilized in Russia’s warfare in Ukraine.
- Russian producer Almaz-Antey for its work growing anti-missile and anti-aircraft techniques.
Additionally, Treasury is imposing sanctions on a number of entities and people concerned within the paramilitary group’s colossal international community.
- Joint Stock Company Terra Tech, a Russian-based know-how firm, for offering house and aerial imagery to the Wagner Group.
- China’s Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute and its subsidiary Spacety Luxembourg for offering radar satellite tv for pc imagery over Ukrainian places.
- Joint Stock Company Research and Production, a Russian house firm supporting Russia’s navy actions in Ukraine.
“As sanctions and export controls on Russia form our international coalition continue to bite, the Kremlin is desperately searching for arms and support — including through the brutal Wagner Group,” Treasury Secretary Yellen wrote in a press release asserting the measures.
“Today’s expanded sanctions on Wagner, as well as new sanctions on their associates and other companies enabling the Russian military complex, will further impede Putin’s ability to arm and equip his war machine,” she added.
Further, the State Department issued sanctions in opposition to one particular person and 4 entities related to already-designated Russian Oligarch Vladimir Potanin.
State can also be designating Sergei Adonev, a Putin financier, in addition to flagging two of his yachts and one plane as blocked property.
In addition, State introduced steps to impose visa restrictions on 531 members of the Russian navy for their function in Ukraine.
“The United States is steadfast in our resolve against Russia’s aggression and other destabilizing behavior worldwide,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote in a press release.
“Today’s designations will further impede the Kremlin’s ability to arm its war machine that is engaged in a war of aggression against Ukraine, and which has caused unconscionable death and destruction,” he added.
