The US has imposed sanctions on a number of entities within the Russian Ministry of Defence, as well as two Russian companies and five Russian nationals. This was announced in a statement by the State Department released on 4 August.
The sanctions target the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defence, the 1061st Logistics Support Centre, the Directorate for Advanced Joint Research and Special Projects of the Russian Ministry of Defence, and the Russian Ground Forces, according to Radio Free Europe’s Russian Service. The sanctions apply to their successors, subdivisions or subsidiaries.
In addition, two Russian companies – International Invest Company and Gedion Alpha Company – have been added to the sanctions list, as well as Russian citizens Alexander Prikhodko, Andrei Gusev, Andrei Kosolapov, Vladislav Morozik and Sergei Tsybarev.
The sanctions have been imposed for violations of the Iran, Syria and North Korea Non-Proliferation Act (INKSNA).
The State Department’s statement notes that the restrictions came into force on 24 July and will remain in place for two years.
At the end of July, the US Senate voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of a bill to extend sanctions against Russia and Iran.
In particular, it authorises President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 200 per cent on the world’s largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas, and extends sanctions against Russian financial institutions, the political elite, prominent business figures and Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’.
The bill has not yet been finally adopted; it must be approved by members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and signed by the US President.