The Biden administration placed broad penalties on Russian banks, energy and infrastructure corporations, and a number of Russian elites on Thursday in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The US Treasury Department released the complete list in a press statement, categorising sanctioned companies as “important Russian financial institutions” and “elites and families close to Putin.”
Vladimir Kiriyenko, the CEO of VK Group, the parent firm of Russia’s largest social network VKontakte, is among the sanctioned persons. While he is not sanctioned expressly for his work with the VK organisation, the decision prevents one of the country’s most powerful technology leaders from doing business with any US entity.