US imposes sanctions against Donetsk, Luhansk

US declared that such action threatens the peace, stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.

The sanctions imposed are not the more comprehensive sanctions expected to be imposed against Russia for any invasion of Ukraine that it may undertake.

Under the Executive Order, the following are prohibited:

• New investment in the so-called DNR or LNR regions of Ukraine or such other regions of Ukraine as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, by a United States person, wherever located;
• The importation into the United States, directly or indirectly, of any goods, services, or technology from the Covered Regions;
• The exportation, re-exportation, sale, or supply, directly or indirectly, from the United States, or by a United States person, wherever located, of any goods, services, or technology to the Covered Regions;
• Any approval, financing, facilitation, or guarantee by a United States person, wherever located, of a transaction by a foreign person where the transaction by that foreign person would be prohibited by this section if performed by a United States person or within the United States.

Additionally, the Executive Order blocks the following persons (SDNs) and their property:

• Persons operating in or have operated since the date of this order in the Covered Regions;
• To be or have been since the date of this order a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of an entity operating in the Covered Regions;
• To be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked;
• To have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked.

The Executive Order also bans the entry into the United States of the foregoing persons.

Furthermore, the Executive Order prohibits:

• The provision of insurance to or for SDNs, or to persons in the Covered Regions;
• The payment of claims to an SDN or to persons in the Covered Regions;
• The provision of insurance to or for any vessel carrying goods to or from the Covered Regions;
• Transactions with or involving the Covered Regions or any person therein.

UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation

The UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended its existing sanctions regulations against Russia. Under this amendment, any person/entity involved in de-stabilizing the Ukraine or undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of the Ukraine will be designated accordingly.

In that respect, OFSI proceeded on February 22, 2022, with eight new designations related to individuals and financial institutions. With minor exceptions, these individuals/entities have previously been included on the OFAC SDN list.

EXPLORE MORE AT THE SANCTIONS UPDATE