The United States increased sanctions against Russia by designating 21 entities and 13 individuals in response to President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. targeted them in its efforts to shut down the Kremlin’s sanctions evasion networks, which have a big role in the Russian Federation’s ability to continue its war, according to a March 31 news release.
“We will continue to target President Putin’s war machine with sanctions from every angle, until this senseless war of choice is over,” Blinken said, according to the news release.
The Russian Federation escalated its attacks that violate Ukraine’s sovereignty in the devastation of population centers. Attacks are being made on schools, hospitals, residential areas and places where Ukrainians shelter from the Russian bombardment, Blinken said.
Three individuals were designated for malicious cyber activities, with one of them indicted by the Department of Justice a week ago, according to the statement.
“The United States will continue to hold President Putin’s cyber actors to account for disruptive, destructive or otherwise destabilizing cyber activity targeting the United States and its allies and partners,” Blinken said.
The Department of the Treasury expanded its Russia sanctions authorities, according to the release. Anyone who operates in the aerospace, electronics and marine sectors of the Russian Federation economy can face additional economic costs.
"These actions demonstrate our resolve to hold the Russian Federation accountable for its aggression against Ukraine and commitment to take further actions against persons supporting evasion of the sanctions that the United States and our allies and partners have put in place,” Blinken said.
