US sanctions hundreds of individuals, firms over Russia’s war in Ukraine

Measures target nearly 300 entities, including 20 firms based in China and Hong Kong.

The United States has imposed new sanctions on hundreds of individuals and firms linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine, accusing Moscow of illegally using chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces.

US officials on Wednesday announced measures targeting more than 280 entities in their latest effort to paralyse Russia’s military and industrial capabilities, including 20 firms based in China and Hong Kong.

The measures come as US President Joe Biden’s administration has been sounding the alarm about growing military cooperation between China and Russia.

The Chinese companies targeted by the measures include a Chengdu-based firm accused of exporting drone parts to Russia and a Hong Kong-based firm accused of supplying parts found in Russian missile systems and UAVs.

The sanctions also target individuals linked to the death of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, and non-Russian entities located in Belgium, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

The measures come on the heels of Biden singing a long-delayed bill to fund Kyiv’s military resistance against Russian forces.