Treasury imposes sanctions against Russian paramilitary firm Wagner Group

WASHINGTON – The Biden administration on Thursday announced a slew of fresh sanctions and additional measures targeting Russia's private military firm, the Wagner Group, saying it's engaged in an "ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity" in Ukraine, Africa and Mali.

The Treasury Department identified the Wagner Group, led by Putin crony Yevgeniy Prigozhin, as a "significant transnational criminal organization."

In the Central African Republic and Mali, Treasury said "Wagner personnel have engaged in an ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity, including mass execution, rape, child abductions and physical abuse." It also stands accused of destabilizing governments in Africa and targeting women, children and other civilians in Ukraine, attacking schools and hospitals and forcibly relocating civilians, among other human rights violations.

Last week, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at the White House that U.S. intelligence estimates indicate the Wagner Group has at least 50,000 personnel in Ukraine, most of them recruited for the fight from Russian prisons.

"Our message to any company that is considering providing support to Wagner is simply this, Wagner is a criminal organization that is continuing widespread atrocities and human rights abuses," Kirby added.

Kirby also slammed North Korean weapon deliveries to Russia used by Wagner, including infantry rockets and missiles. 

Thursday's sanctions on six individuals and 12 entities also target "the infrastructure that supports battlefield operations in Ukraine, including producers of Russia's weapons and those administering Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine."

Treasury sanctioned Rustam Nurgaliyevich Minnikhanov, the Russian chairman of the already-sanctioned Tupolev Public Joint Stock Company, for his work in supporting Moscow's aerospace sector. His wife, Gulsina Akhatovna Minnikhanova was also designated for accepting bribes.

Additionally, Treasury is imposing sanctions on multiple entities and individuals involved in the paramilitary group's colossal global network.

Joint Stock Company Terra Tech, a Russian-based technology firm, for providing space and aerial imagery to the Wagner Group. Treasury also identified China's Changsha Tianyi Space Science and Technology Research Institute and its subsidiary Spacety Luxembourg for providing radar satellite imagery over Ukrainian locations. In addition, Treasury took action against Joint Stock Company Research and Production, a Russian space company supporting Russia's military activities in Ukraine.

"As sanctions and export controls on Russia form our international coalition continue to bite, the Kremlin is desperately searching for arms and support — including through the brutal Wagner Group," Treasury Secretary Yellen wrote in a statement announcing the measures.

"Today's expanded sanctions on Wagner, as well as new sanctions on their associates and other companies enabling the Russian military complex, will further impede Putin's ability to arm and equip his war machine," she added.

This story is developing. Please check back for updates.