US imposes new sanctions on Russian military industry
Washington continues to expand its efforts to weaken the Kremlin in the war in Ukraine. This time, the US Treasury Department has announced new sanctions against Yury Yuryevich Orekhov and two of his companies, Nord-Deutsche Industrieanlagenbau GmbH (NDA GmbH) and Opus Energy Trading LLC (Opus Energy Trading). Orekhov is accused of acquiring American weapons and then selling them to Moscow for use in the war. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo highlighted the significant impact of these sanctions, saying that "these efforts are having a direct effect on the battlefield".
Preventing Russia from getting its hands on new weaponry is a major concern for the White House. US actions have provoked Russian desperation, which "has led them to turn to inferior suppliers and obsolete equipment". US President Joe Biden himself referred to Russia and, more specifically, his Kremlin counterpart Vladimir Putin, saying that Putin was "in a very difficult situation". However, Washington has no intention of slowing down its efforts in the wake of this - far from it. The communiqué announcing the sanctions itself assures that export control measures will be tightened and "strong measures" will continue to be taken against sanctions evasion.
Among the arms procured by Orekhov for his company NDA GmbH were advanced semiconductors and microprocessors used in fighter aircraft, smart munitions, satellites, radar, ballistic and hypersonic missile systems. All of this was shipped to Russian users and companies on the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security Entity List, in violation of US export controls. Moreover, this collaborative link has been certified by finding these US components on Russian weapons platforms on Ukrainian territory.
Washington's sanctions come at a key moment in the conflict, when Putin has just decreed martial law in the four Ukrainian regions annexed to Russia. To "ensure security and organise work", the Russian president granted "increased powers" to the rulers of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporiyia, he announced at a meeting of Russia's National Security Council. It also issued a decree limiting movement with eight regions bordering Ukraine and the formation of a special coordination council headed by Mikhail Mishustin, Russia's Prime Minister.
Moscow is trying to strengthen a position that, although it is trying to embellish its propaganda image, is very weak on the ground. The United States, aware of the situation, is toughening sanctions in order to undermine the Russians' economic muscle and prevent them from continuing the offensive that began on 24 February. Not only that, but Ukraine is also denouncing the Russian propaganda flooding the country. Andrei Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president's office, accused Russia of orchestrating a 'propaganda' evacuation of the city: 'The Russians are trying to scare the people of Kherson through fake news bulletins about the shelling of the city by our army'.
Americas Coordinator: José Antonio Sierra