Additional sanctions were imposed on hundreds of individuals and businesses linked to Russia’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine after Moscow confirmed the unlawful use of chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces.
US officials on Wednesday announced measures targeting more than 280 organizations, including 20 firms based in China and Hong Kong, in the latest effort to undermine Russia’s military and industrial capabilities.
The move comes as US President Joe Biden’s administration warns of growing military cooperation between China and Russia.
Chinese companies targeted in the crackdown include a Chengdu firm accused of exporting drone parts to Russia and a Hong Kong-based firm accused of supplying parts found in Russian missile systems and unmanned aerial vehicles.
The sanctions target non-Russian entities based in Belgium, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, as well as individuals linked to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
The measure complements Biden’s long-delayed bill to fund Kiev’s military offensive against Russian forces.
“Today’s action will undermine and undermine the Russian war effort by targeting the military industrial base and the stealth systems that support it,” US Treasury Secretary Janet Ellen said in a statement. He also said the sanctions would support US efforts to “strengthen Ukraine’s courageous resistance.”
According to the US National Institutes of Health, chloropicrin, used in warfare and as a pesticide, can cause “immediate, severe swelling of the eyes, nose, and throat, and significant damage to the upper and lower respiratory tract.”
“The use of these chemical agents is not an isolated incident and is related to the desire of Russian forces to remove Ukrainian forces from entrenched areas and achieve tactical success on the battlefield,” the State Department said.
