Today, the United States is imposing sanctions on individuals and entities in order to degrade Russia’s current and future military capabilities, reduce Russia’s revenue by targeting its future energy projects, and curb sanctions evasion by targeting those who help Russia procure sensitive material, and curtail Russia’s use of the international financial system to further its war. All targets below are being designated pursuant to Executive Order 14024 , which authorizes sanctions with respect to specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation.
CONTINUED DEGRADATION OF RUSSIA’S FUTURE ENERGY PRODUCTION AND EXPORT CAPABILITIES
The Department of State (The Department) is designating multiple entities involved in expanding Russia’s ability to finish construction of key future energy projects, as well as entities engaged in exploratory drilling throughout Russia.
- AO Nipigazpererabotka (Nipigaz) is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the engineering sector of the Russian Federation economy. Nipigaz is a leading Russian engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) entity that is directing construction activities and purchasing material for the development of future Russian energy export projects.
The following entities are subsidiaries of Nipigaz and are being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(vii) for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Nipigaz, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked:
- Obshestvo S Ogranichennoj Otvetstvennostyu Nipigaz IT is a subsidiary of Nipigaz that performs computer software development and designs, advises, and examines computer systems and technology.
- Obshestvo S Ogranichennoj Otvetstvennostyu Nipigaz Aktiv is a subsidiary of Nipigaz that rents and manages real estate.
The following entities are being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy:
- Burovaya Kompaniya Eurasia Limited Liability Company (BKE) is a Russian oilfield services company involved in the provision of drilling equipment and services related to exploring and drilling new oil and gas well sites. BKE also performs well intervention services.
- Joint Stock Company Siberian Service Company (Siberian Service Company) is a Russian oilfield services company involved in the provision of drilling services related to exploring and drilling new oil and gas well sites.
TARGETING SHIPPING AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO FUTURE ENERGY PROJECTS
The Department is also designating Sakhalin Shipping Company (SASCO), a Russian shipping company that has provided key logistical support to multiple Russian future energy projects. SASCO has provided support for future energy projects by delivering construction material and equipment via sea to the Taimyr Peninsula. SASCO is also involved in expanding Russia’s trade routes to new jurisdictions as the Russian Federation looks to backfill economic connections it has lost due to the invasion of Ukraine. SASCO is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the marine sector of the Russian Federation economy.
The following entities are subsidiaries of SASCO and are being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(vii) for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, SASCO:
- OOO MPL Vanino Sakhalin is responsible for facilitating the renting and leasing of maritime transport equipment for SASCO.
- AO Vostok Treid Invest is responsible for buying and selling real estate for SASCO.
The following vessels are being identified as blocked property in which SASCO has an interest:
- SASCO ALDAN
- SASCO AVACHA
- SASCO ANGARA
- SASCO ANIVA
- PATRIA
- ZEYA
- KUNASHIR
- PARAMUSHIR
- SELENGA
- SHANTAR
- SIMUSHIR
- SAKHALIN 8
- SAKHALIN 9
- SAKHALIN 10
CONTINUING PRESSURE ON ROSATOM
This is the fourth Russia sanctions action in a row that includes designations of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom (Rosatom) subsidiaries. The following subsidiaries of Rosatom are being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(vii) for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the Russian Federation:
- AEM Propulsion is involved in the production and supply of elements of propulsion systems for ships of various purposes and classes.
- NPO KIS was established in October 2022, and is involved in the production and procurement of various microelectronics.
DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE AND TECHNOLOGY PROCUREMENT
The Department is designating multiple defense entities and procurement companies working to acquire goods in support of Russia’s war effort. These designations underscore our commitment to combatting sanctions evasion and key procurement networks that Russia is trying to establish in order to maintain its defense industrial base and support its illegal war against Ukraine.
The Department is designating the following entities pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy:
- Limited Liability Company Fivel is a Russian tech company that carries out wholesale deliveries of electronic components to Russian clients.
- Limited Liability Company Fifth Element Trading is a Russian supplier of electronic components and devices.
- Radiant EK AO is a Moscow-based distributor of computer chips and other electronic parts.
- Limited Liability Company AB Optiks is a Russian optics manufacturer and supplier, providing infrared cameras and diagnostic systems.
- Limited Liability Company Fortap is a Russian tech company that has imported millions of dollars of electronics, including U.S.-made computer parts, into Russia.
The following entity is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the transportation sector of the Russian Federation economy:
- Limited Liability Company IMEX Expert (IMEX Expert) is a Russian logistics company working to procure non-Russian goods and circumvent sanctions.
The following entities are being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy:
- Vityaz Machine Building Company Joint Stock Company (Vityaz) is a Russian defense company that is engaged in the development, production, operation, and repair of armored vehicles that are designed for operation in difficult road and climate conditions.
- Closed Joint Stock Company Kilmovskiy Specialized Ammunition Plant (KSPZ AO) is a Russian defense company that manufactures naval, aircraft, tank, coast, and field artillery and is responsible for manufacturing and selling firearms and ammunition.
- Federal State Enterprise YA M Sverdlov Plant (Sverdlov Plant) is a large Federal State-owned enterprise in Russia that produces explosives, industrial chemicals, detonators and ammunition.
- Joint Stock Company Concern Kalashnikov (Kalashnikov Concern) is Russia’s leading manufacturer of automatic and sniper combat firearms, guided artillery munitions, and a wide range of weapons. It is the flagship company of Russia’s weapons industry. Kalashnikov Concern was previously designated in 2015 pursuant to E.O. 13661.
- Vladimir Nikolaevich Lepin (Lepin) is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C) for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of JSC Kalashnikov Concern, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked. Lepin is the General Director of Kalashnikov Concern.
The following entity is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the aerospace sector of the Russian Federation economy:
- Limited Liability Company Kosmosavia (Kosmosavia) operates or has operated in the aerospace sector of the Russian Federation economy. Kosmosavia is a Russian supplier of aviation equipment and spare parts for Russian civil helicopters and cargo aircraft.
RUSSIAN PRIVATE MILITARY COMPANIES (PMCs)
The Department is also taking action to further target PMCs supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine and other harmful activities of the Russian government outside of Russia.
- Limited Liability Company Private Security Organization Gazpromneft Okhrana (Okhrana) is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(vii) for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the Russian Federation. Okhrana is a security company established by PJSC Gazprom, which is subject to Directive 4 under E.O. 13662 and Directive 3 under E.O. 14024.
- Limited Liability Company Vega Strategic Services (PMC Vega) is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. PMC Vega is a Russian private military company that has operated in Syria and Venezuela.
- Anatoliy Anatolievich Smolin is the publicly identified leader of PMC Vega and is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C) for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of PMC Vega, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked.
- IRBIS SKY TECH is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. IRBIS SKY TECH is a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) production and development company. IRBIS SKY TECH UAVs are utilized in combat by Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine.
- Igor Mikhailovich Stramilov (Stramilov) is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. Stramilov is the founder and ultimate owner of PMC Vega. Stramilov is involved in the supply of combat UAVs and other military equipment for the Russian Armed Forces, as well as their performance on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The following entities are designated pursuant to section 1(a)(vii) for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Stramilov, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked.
- Limited Liability Company Legion is a private security company owned by Stramilov.
- Limited Liability Company Legat is a private security company owned by Stramilov.
CONSTRAINING MOSCOW’S MILITARY SPACE ENDEAVORS
Together with the Department of the Treasury, the Department of State is designating a number of targets that are part of Russia’s military space program. These designations further our efforts to degrade Russia’s ability to develop aerospace technologies, which could be deployed in support of its ground forces fighting in Ukraine.
- The Central Research Institute of the Russian Air and Space Forces (TsNII VVKO) is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. TsNII VVKO conducts research and development of aerospace defense systems for the Russian Federation.
- Center for Operation of Space Ground-Based Infrastructure (AO Tsenki) is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the aerospace sector of the Russian Federation economy. AO Tsenki is responsible for the maintenance of Russia’s ground-based space infrastructure.
- JSC Aviation Electronics and Communication Systems (AVEKS) is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the aerospace sector of the Russian Federation economy. AVEKS is engaged in the design and manufacture of power supply systems for spacecraft and control systems of electronic propulsion systems.
IMPOSING COSTS ON THE WAGNER GROUP’s LEADER YEVGENIY PRIGOZIN
The Department is designating two individuals linked to Wagner Group leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin, both of whom have been involved in the shipment of munitions to the Russian Federation.
- Valeriy Yevgenyevich Chekalov (Chekalov) is designated pursuant to section 1(a)(vii) for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked. Chekalov has acted for or on behalf of Prigozhin and has facilitated shipments of munitions to the Russian Federation.
- Yong Hyok Rim (Rim) is designated pursuant to section 1(a)(vi)(B) for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Yevgeniy Viktorovich Prigozhin, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked. Rim, a North Korea national, has assisted or provided support for Prigozhin and has facilitated shipments of munitions to the Russian Federation.
RUSSIAN FEDERATION ELITES, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND MALIGN ACTORS
The Department is also designating multiple senior Russian government officials and malign actors as part of continued efforts to impose costs on and promote accountability for the bureaucratic enablers of Russia’s illegal war. The Department is additionally designating certain targets acting for the benefit of Russia in areas that it has temporarily occupied in Ukraine, involved in infrastructure projects that attempt to help cement Russia’s occupation of parts of Ukraine’s territory.
Russian Federation Elites and Government Officials
- Aleksey Leonidovich Kudrin (Kudrin) is a Russian technology firm corporate development advisor with close ties to Vladimir Putin. Kudrin is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy.
- Pavel Alekseevich Marinychev (Marinychev) is the CEO of PJSC Alrosa (Alrosa), a diamond mining company that is majority-owned by the Government of the Russian Federation. Alrosa and its former CEO were designated by the United States in April 2022. Marinychev is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(i) for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy.
The following individuals are being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(A) for being or having been leaders, officials, senior executive officers, or members of the board of directors of the Government of the Russian Federation:
- Ilya Eduardovich Torosov is a Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
- Aleksey Igorevich Khersontsev is a Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation.
- Vasiliy Sergeevich Osmakov is a Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation.
- Pavel Nikolaevich Snikkars is a Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation.
- Leonid Vladimirovich Gornin is a Deputy Finance Minister of the Russian Federation.
- Pavel Yurevich Sorokin is a Deputy Minister of Energy of the Russian Federation.
- Sergey Borisovich Korolev is the First Deputy Director of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB).
- Vasiliy Nikolaevich Anokhin is the Governor of Russia’s Smolensk region.
Malign Actors
- State Unitary Enterprise of the Donetsk People’s Republic Republican Center Trading House Vtormet (Vtormet) is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(ii)(F) for being responsible for or complicit in, or having directly or indirectly engaged or attempted to engage in, activities that undermine the peace, security, political stability, or territorial integrity of the United States, its allies, or its partners, for or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the Russian Federation. Vtormet is a so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic “state enterprise,” which buys and sells ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal and is involved in infrastructure projects that attempt to help cement Russia’s occupation of parts of Ukraine’s territory.
- Maksim Valeriovych Soldatov (Soldatov) is being designated pursuant to section 1(a)(iii)(C) for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of, Vtormet, an entity whose property and interests in property are blocked. Soldatov is the CEO and General Director of Vtormet.
SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS
As a result of today’s actions, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Additionally, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
