Sanctions Roll Out Across Multiple Entities and Sectors
U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control has imposed sanctions on twenty entities spanning Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the United Arab Emirates, and North Macedonia. The sanctions place restrictions on the individuals and organizations on the Specially Designated Nationals list, including visa limits and the freezing of assets and accounts. One notable case involves Macedonian Bet City International DOO Skopje, linked to Sergei Samsonenko, the founder of the Betcity betting network active since the early 2000s.
OFAC notes that Samsonenko and his wife, Irina, who holds both Russian and North Macedonian citizenship, acquired a land plot from Macedonian entrepreneur Jordan Kamchev in 2017 and 2018. Kamchev himself faced U.S. sanctions in July 2023 over corruption charges in the Western Balkans. Testimony in Kamchev and his mother Ratka Koska Kamcheva’s money laundering case has connected Samsonenko to broader investigations. In 2021, Samsonenko allegedly made a string of payments to Kamchev Konsalting Skopje DOOEL (Kamchev Konsalting) and Orka Fajnans Skopje DOOEL (Orka Fajnans), both entities associated with Kamchev.
Beyond this, several other companies were added to the sanctions list. These include ABS Electrical Engineering, Esset Automation, Esset Electro, Dominion Nikolsky, and Dominion Tverskaya-Yaroslavskaya. The All-Russian Research, Design and Technology Institute of Relay Production with Pilot Production is also named. Additional entities such as ABS ZEiM Automation, Mosen Asset Management, VNIIR Gidroelektroavtomatika, VNIIR Promelektro, and VNIIR-Transstroy were designated as well, expanding the scope of the network affected by OFAC’s measures. The aim is to disrupt support structures connected to sanctioned individuals and to reduce their access to international financial systems.
In a related sector, sanctions extend to three oil tankers flying the Liberian flag. The vessels Kazan, Ligovsky Prospect, and NS Century are linked to Kazan Shipping, Progress Shipping, and Gallion Navigation, all based in the United Arab Emirates. U.S. officials say these ships were used to transport Russian oil priced above the established ceiling. The price cap, set at $60 per barrel for crude oil shipped by sea, was introduced by the G7, the European Union, and Australia in December 2022, with follow-on limits for oil products taking effect in 2023. The US and allied partners have stressed adherence to these ceilings as a tool to restrain Russia’s energy revenues, while Moscow contends it will adjust supply in response to price controls.
Discussions about enforcement and market impact also touch on cooperation with other major economies. The policy framing argues that price ceilings help limit Russia’s energy income, while some partners emphasize the need for careful application to avoid unintended supply disruptions. Officials emphasize the coalition’s commitment to monitoring compliance and adapting measures as conditions evolve, including how sanctions interact with global markets and energy security in North America and allied regions. The dialogue highlights that price caps are part of a broader strategy to limit Russia’s economic capabilities without triggering excessive market volatility.
On the international stage, agencies continue to articulate the rationale behind the price cap policy. The State Department has framed the cap as a practical constraint aimed at reducing revenue for the Russian energy sector. A senior official noted that the U.S. and its allies are dedicated to supporting the price cap regime and reducing Russia’s ability to finance aggression. This stance is echoed in public briefings about ongoing sanctions cooperation with Chinese partners, stressing intensive coordination on price caps and related enforcement efforts. The aim is to maintain a steady, collaborative approach that aligns with shared goals on energy markets and global security. The current posture underscores a balance between enforcing sanctions and maintaining predictable, transparent energy markets for consumers and businesses across North America and beyond.