U. S. imposes sanctions on Russian military companies
2023.01.26 11:45
U. S. imposes sanctions on Russian military companies
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – On Thursday, additional sanctions were imposed by the United States against the Wagner Group, a private Russian military company that, according to American officials, has been assisting Russia’s military in its war in Ukraine.
As part of an effort to weaken Russia’s ability to wage war, the U.S. Treasury Department declared the Wagner Group to be a “significant transnational criminal organization.” This designation was made in an effort to target dozens of individuals and organizations.
According to a statement released by the Treasury, “Wagner personnel have engaged in an ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity, including mass executions, rape, child abduction, and physical abuse” in Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR).
The declaration prohibits Americans from contributing money, goods, or services to the group and places a freeze on any assets held by Wagner in the United States.
Under a different executive order, the Treasury also imposed additional sanctions on Wagner, accusing the group of being responsible for or complicit in the targeting of women, children, or civilians through forced displacement, attacks on hospitals, and other actions pertaining to the Central African Republic.
In addition, Washington named Joint Stock Company Tech, which is based in Russia, and Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute Co. LTD, which is based in China. It also named individuals and organizations associated with Russia’s defense industrial complex.
According to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s statement:
“Today’s expanded sanctions on Wagner, as well as new sanctions on their associates and other companies enabling the Russian military complex, will further impede Putin’s ability to arm and equip his war machine.”
John Kirby, spokesperson for national security at the White House (NYSE:) Last week, it was reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been increasingly relying on Wagner for military assistance, which has led to some tensions in Moscow.
He stated:
“We are seeing indications, including in intelligence, that tensions are increasing between Wagner and the Russian Defense Ministry.”
Wagner is becoming a rival to the Russian military and other ministries in terms of power.
He stated that Wagner currently has approximately 50,000 personnel deployed to Ukraine, including 10,000 contractors and 40,000 inmates recruited from Russian prisons. The United States estimates this number to be around 50,000.
The Wagner Group and its owner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, as well as government officials and individuals connected to Russia’s military industrial complex, were among the dozens of entities and individuals that the U.S. State Department designated on Thursday.
