- The US is targeting Russian
oligarchs close to Putin in its latestsanctions over the invasion ofUkraine . - Eight Russian oligarchs and their family members face full blocking sanctions.
The US on Thursday imposed sanctions on eight oligarchs and their family members who "continue supporting President Putin despite his brutal invasion of Ukraine," the White House said in a statement.
"These individuals have enriched themselves at the expense of the
These individuals and their family members will be cut off from the US financial system, and their assets in the US will be frozen, according to the White House statement.
The family members and associated companies of all eight oligarchs face full blocking sanctions. "The
Included in this group is Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary to Russian President
The White House also singled out metals magnate Alisher Usmanov, "a close ally of Putin," whose property, superyacht, and private jet will be blocked from use in the US.
Also hit by the sanctions is Nikolai Tokarev, a former colleague of Putin's at the KGB and the CEO of Transneft, a major Russian oil and gas company. Tokarev's wife, daughter, and two luxury real-estate companies have also been sanctioned.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the oligarchs were chosen based on their proximity to Putin. "We want him to feel the squeeze. We want the people around him to feel the squeeze," she said, according to an official transcript of her press briefing on Thursday.
The US is also imposing visa restrictions on 19 Russian oligarchs, as well as 47 of their family members and close associates, according to the White House statement.