WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is preparing sanctions targeting Russian companies it says provides goods and services for the military and intelligence services, including dual-use components used in weapons proliferation, U.S. officials said.
The Treasury Department sanctions, which could be announced as early as next week, come as the U.S. and allies continue to target a range of economic sectors in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The sanctions are the latest action under an executive order signed by President Biden that aims at blocking or prohibiting transactions with entities or people linked to harmful foreign activities on behalf of Moscow.
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According to U.S. officials and documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, the Russian government has relied heavily on key western and international technologies for its defense industry to function. The new sanctions are tailored to target companies that are part of Russia’s procurement networks that produce and buy goods that have both civil and military purposes.
Among those expected to be targeted: Serniya Engineering, which the U.S. thinks is at the center of a procurement network engaged in weapons proliferation for Russia’s intelligence services; and Moscow-based Sertal, which the administration says produces equipment and technology for Russia’s military. The U.S. also will impose sanctions on what it describes as four front companies used by Serniya and Sertal to facilitate their procurement for the military.
An expanded version of this report appears at WSJ.com.
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