TheLittleTwentieth – Renowned Papers Edition, AI Infused

Local sources from Russia: ГОЛОС АМЕРИКИ – VOA Russian, Переселенческий Вестник.
UK coverage: Al Jazeera English.

The United States has imposed new sanctions on over 130 entities, including firms in China, Turkey, and the UAE, for allegedly supplying Russia’s military with components and technology and supporting its war in Ukraine. The sanctions aim to cut off Russia’s supply chain and target loopholes that allow entities in these countries to send “high-priority dual-use goods” to Russia. The sanctions also mark the first time the US has moved against the production of Russia’s Lancet suicide drones. Despite the sanctions, Russia’s economy is still expected to grow this year with support from countries like China, Turkey, and India.

The US has imposed new extensive sanctions against Moscow in connection with the war in Ukraine, targeting Russia’s future energy potential and evasion of previously imposed sanctions. They are also aimed at kamikaze drones, which pose a threat to Ukrainian forces and equipment. The new measures are directed against a major company involved in the development, operation, and ownership of a large project in Siberia called “Arctic LNG 2,” the State Department reported. The project is related to the transportation of liquefied natural gas to global markets.

Washington has also targeted the Cub-BLA and Lantsyet kamikaze drones used by Russian military in Ukraine. The sanctions include a network that the US accused of procuring goods for their production, as well as the creator and designer of the drones. The US Department of Commerce on Thursday added 13 organizations in Russia and Uzbekistan to the export control list for actions contrary to national security and foreign policy interests.

The US has also taken measures against the evasion of sanctions through the UAE, Turkey, and China. The Treasury Department stated that companies located in these countries continue to send dual-use goods to Russia, including components that Moscow relies on for its weapons systems. The Treasury Department’s sanctions also targeted seven Russian banks and dozens of industrial companies, including “Gazpromneft – Catalytic Systems.” According to the Ministry’s statement, the company produces chemical reagents for modern oil refining in Russia.

The US is attempting to target future energy production in Russia, similar to how they targeted deepwater, shale, and Arctic oil extraction after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. All of these projects rely on Western technologies. The US itself is a major producer of LNG, which they export to Europe. Washington is trying to reduce the supply of Russian LNG to Europe, which has only banned the import of Russian pipeline gas.

It was expected that the “Arctic LNG 2” project would begin exports in the near future, and it is unclear what volume of Russian LNG will be blocked by the new measures. Washington has also imposed sanctions on the Russian company ZALA Aero, which, according to the State Department, develops, manufactures, and sells barrage ammunition and kamikaze drones to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The sanctions also targeted the Russian company A-Level Aerosystems, which produces and sells drones under the ZALA brand. Sanctions have also been imposed on the owner of the companies, Alexander Zakharov, his wife, daughter, and sons, as well as the companies they own.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed the new package of US sanctions against Russia as “very powerful.” According to him, the punitive measures now target more important sectors of the aggressor’s economy. However, Zelensky said in his video address broadcasted in Kyiv on Thursday evening that it is necessary to prevent Moscow from bypassing the sanctions. Russia has repeatedly called the sanctions ineffective.

Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba stated that Ukraine currently does not feel that “support from our partners is diminishing in any way.” On the contrary, in an interview with the ZDF program “Maybrit Illner,” Kuleba stated that his country has received assurances at all levels that support for Ukraine will continue.

Despite Russian airstrikes on port facilities, according to available data, over 70 merchant ships have entered Ukrainian seaports on the Black Sea since September. On Ukrainian foreign television on Thursday, Navy spokesperson Dmitry Pletenchuk mentioned an export volume of nearly 1.5 million tons per month.

Ukraine continues its counteroffensive to liberate the territories occupied by Russia in the following regions: Zaporizhia, Kherson, Luhansk, and Donetsk. In addition, the country has announced the return of the Crimean peninsula on the Black Sea, which was already annexed by Russia in 2014.