U.S. sanctions nearly 400 firms supplying Russia

The U.S. State and Treasury Departments on Wednesday imposed sanctions on hundreds of third-party companies providing resources to Russia for its war against Ukraine. The suppliers include Chinese companies selling Russia goods with both civilian and military uses. U.S. authorities sanctioned entities in other countries for supporting Russian energy production. The countries with sanctioned entities include India, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates.

What sorts of supplies do these sanctions target? Some of the Treasury’s sanctions on suppliers from Turkey seek to prevent the sale of sophisticated weapons and ammunition to Russia through chains of intermediaries. The United States consulted with the Turkish government before imposing those sanctions.

The Treasury also imposed separate sanctions on Turkish entities trafficking American-made microelectronics to Russia, as well as other companies providing Moscow with nitrocellulose—gunpowder’s primary ingredient. The sanctions directed at Chinese companies seek to hamper Russia’s ability to procure electronics that have legitimate civilian uses but that can also be used in military weapons systems.

Dig deeper: Read my report in The Sift about how the UN says Russian authorities are systematically torturing Ukrainians in detention facilities on both sides of the Russo-Ukrainian border.