On Thursday, the United States added more than 120 Russian companies and several Kyrgyz companies to its sanctions blacklist due to their alleged contributions to the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
The US State Department stated that the sanctions aim to further restrict Russia’s access to raw materials and critical manufactured goods, as well as to impede its military capabilities by disrupting its financing.
The newly blacklisted entities include Russian banks, energy companies, shipping firms, defense and technology procurement companies, as well as privately-owned Russian military firms.
Additionally, seven state-controlled research institutions dealing with advanced technologies were also placed on the blacklist.
The US Treasury Department also identified a number of Kyrgyz companies, alleging that Russia uses them to circumvent US and allied export restrictions on technology materials sought by Russian manufacturers.
Earlier on Thursday, Kyrgyzstan denied assisting its ally Moscow in evading sanctions imposed due to the Ukrainian invasion but acknowledged the possible involvement of private companies and stated that it is investigating the matter.
In a statement, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned that these sanctions will constrain Russia’s access to critical commodities, restrict its future energy production and exports, curtail its use of the international financial system, and deter those who would assist Russia in evading sanctions.
Overall, US sanctions aim to make it difficult for blacklisted individuals or companies to conduct international business by preventing US nationals or US-based companies, including foreign banks with US branches, from dealing with them.