The US State Department declared that Russia’s Government leverages maritime shipping and other marine sector firms for advancing strategic aims, including by supporting the resupply of troops and continuing of occupation of Crimea, and exporting and exploiting energy reserves.
As a result, eight maritime companies of Russia and many associated vessels are designated in compliance with Executive Order 14024.
Per Antony Blinken, the Department of State and the US Treasury have sanctioned the internal shipping firm of Russia’s Ministry of Defense and six other shipping majors that practice moving their military equipment.
The U.S. has already imposed sanctions on:
In addition, Joint Stock Company NTV Broadcasting Company, the Joint Stock Company Channel One Russia, and the Television Station Russia-1 are also blacklisted. These are unable to earn foreign revenue for the Russian state. Besides, top executives from a broad range of Russian majors, including the whole board of Sberbank, the largest bank of Russia, have been named individually on the list of sanctions.
Targeting Russia’s Maritime Sector
The GoR leverages maritime shipping and other marine sector companies to advance its strategic aims, including by supporting the resupply of its troops and the continuation of its occupation of Crimea, and exploiting and exporting energy reserves. Today, the Department of State is designating eight Russian maritime-related companies. This includes the Russian Ministry of Defense’s shipping company, Oboronlogistika OOO, which has been involved in Russia’s illegal seizure and occupation of Crimea since 2014, as well as private Russian maritime shipping companies that transport weapons and other military equipment for the GoR. The Department of State also took action against vessels these maritime shipping companies have an interest in with the addition of 69 vessels to the Department of the Treasury’s List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. The Department of State is also designating one maritime engineering company that works with the GoR and Russian state-owned entities. This action serves as a warning to private Russian companies that those who support Putin’s war machine risk severe costs.
