The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC) has issued further sanctions (see also January 15, 2025 Thompson Hine Update) to address Russia’s continued efforts to evade U.S. sanctions. OFAC noted in a press release that this latest action “targets a sanctions evasion scheme established between actors in Russia and [China]
Ukraine
Treasury and State Departments Further Increase Sanctions on Russia by Targeting Its Oil and Gas Production Sectors
On January 10, 2025, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) targeted significant entities involved in Russia’s oil production, maritime insurers, maritime oil tankers, and other entities and persons engaged in Russia’s energy sector. According to an OFAC press release, the sanctions block two major Russian oil producers, over 180…
OFAC Continues to Extend Authorizations Under Russia General License 13
On January 7, 2025, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) again extended previous Russia-related General License (GL) 13 by issuing a revised GL 13L, “Authorizing Certain Administrative Transactions Prohibited by Directive 4 under Executive Order 14024,” which states that U.S. persons are authorized to pay taxes, fees, or import…
OFAC Issues General License Allowing Transactions Involving Gazprombank Related to Civil Nuclear Energy
On December 19, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Russia-related General License 115 to generally authorize transactions involving Gazprombank that are related to civil nuclear energy. After sanctioning Gazprombank in November 2024 in order to further limit Russia’s access the international financial system (see Thompson Hine Update…
OFAC Sanctions Gazprombank and Further Limits Russia’s Access to International Financial System
On November 21, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Gazprombank, more than 50 internationally connected small-to-medium Russian banks, more than 40 Russian securities registrars, and 15 Russian finance officials. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated that these sanctions target “Russia’s largest remaining non-designated bank, as well as dozens of…
Commerce, State and Treasury Implement Further Sanctions on Russian and Third-Country Individuals and Entities that Continue to Support Russia’s War Efforts in Ukraine
On October 30, 2024, the Departments of the Treasury, State and Commerce undertook further sanctions against “enablers of Russia’s military-industrial base.” In total, the actions taken by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) sanction over 300 individuals and entities involved in supplying Russia with advanced technology…
OFAC Again Extends Authorizations Under Russia General License 13
On September 30, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) again extended previous Russia-related General License (GL) 13 by issuing a revised GL 13K, “Authorizing Certain Administrative Transactions Prohibited by Directive 4 under Executive Order 14024,” which states that U.S. persons are authorized to pay taxes, fees, or import…
On the Eve of Ukrainian Independence Day, the United States Expands Export Controls and Sanctions on Russia and Belarus
On August 23, 2024—one day before Ukrainian Independence Day—the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of State commemorated the milestone by expanding U.S. export controls and sanctions on Russia and Belarus. Notably, the agencies’ actions also come amidst Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk…
OFAC Implements Further Sanctions on Belarus
On August 9, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned 19 individuals and 14 entities for their continued support of “Russia’s war in Ukraine through military resource production and transshipment of goods to Russia, sanctions evasion on behalf of Belarusian defense entities, and revenue generation for Belarusian oligarchs in…
OFAC Extends Wind Down Authorization for Transactions with Certain Russian Financial Exchanges
On August 2, 2024, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued two revised general licenses regarding conducting financial transactions involving: (i) the Moscow Exchange (MOEX), Russia’s largest public trading markets for equity, fixed income, derivative, foreign exchange, and money market products, as well as Russia’s central securities depository and the…