The US government has announced sanctions against numerous Russian oligarchs because of the war of aggression against Ukraine. Those affected would continue to support Russian President Vladimir Putin “despite his brutal invasion of Ukraine,” the White House said on Thursday. In addition to oligarchs and several of their relatives, the sanctions also affect people from Putin’s inner circle, such as Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Those affected would be cut off from the US financial system and any property would be frozen, the White House said. “The United States and governments around the world” would work to identify and freeze assets of Russian elites and their family members. It is about “their yachts, luxury apartments, funds and other ill-gotten gains”.
The US government also announced entry restrictions against 19 oligarchs and many of their family members. The White House said seven Russian organizations responsible for “disinformation” would be added to the sanctions list. In this context, punitive measures would be taken against 26 other people in Russia and Ukraine who played important roles in these organizations. They spread false information that the Kremlin wanted to use to justify the invasion of Ukraine. US President Joe Biden had already threatened sanctions against oligarchs close to Putin in his State of the Union address on Tuesday. The US was working with European allies “to find and seize their yachts, their luxury homes and their private jets,” Biden said. “We come to take their ill-gotten gains.”