Several Russian entities, including Sernia Engineering, Sertal, and the JSC Research Institute Vector, were placed under sanctions. Washington indicates that most individuals on the list have ties to Sernia Engineering and the Central Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics, known as TsNIIKhM. Restrictions on TsNIIKhM have been active since 2020. Mikron, Russia’s leading microelectronics producer, and the supercomputer creator T-Platforms have also faced fresh penalties.
According to officials, Mikron accounts for more than half of Russia’s exported microelectronic products and stands as the nation’s largest microcircuit manufacturer. The new measures accompany the U.S. Treasury’s authorization to sanction sectors of the Russian economy linked to aviation, shipping, and electronics.
As stated by the U.S. Treasury, the ministry is expanding its authority to target Russia. After consultations with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of State, the decision was made to apply sanctions to the aviation, shipping, and electronics sectors of the Russian economy. The new framework allows sanctioning any individual or entity involved in those sectors. Previously, enforcement powers focused primarily on financial services, technology, and defense industries.
The administration emphasizes that the new restrictions were crafted in close coordination with international partners. Officials say today’s actions demonstrate the resolve of the U.S. government to counter sanction evasion and to impose substantial costs on the Russian government and its proxies for its aggression against Ukraine. The Treasury will use all available powers to enforce these measures against the Russian state and its affiliates. All property within the United States belonging to those covered by the new sanctions is subject to blocking.
easing of sanctions
In a related move, the U.S. Treasury Department announced the removal of OZON Bank LLC from the sanctions list. The accompanying document notes that certain exemptions were granted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). OZON Bank had previously been sanctioned in February for its ties to Sovcombank and was described as a subordinate entity of Sovcombank in earlier reports. RBC has reported that Sovcombank no longer holds OZON Bank, though some readers argue the connectivity remains a matter of record in prior filings.
Historically, OZON Bank traces its origins to Öney Bank, and Auchan entered the banking space in 2013 to serve customers of Leroy Merlin and Decathlon. By late 2020, Auchan exited its bank operations and later aligned with larger financial institutions, facilitating the acquisition of Sovcombank. In spring 2021, Öney Bank acquired OZON. A source from RBC suggests that while the parties announced the transaction’s completion, the United States could still view OZON Bank as part of Sovcombank due to historical associations in official listings.
Earlier reporting noted that the United States had softened some sanctions on Russian elements to ensure the continued availability of essential goods such as mineral fertilizers. Vital products including agricultural goods, medicines, vitamins, and certain foods were exempted from sanctions in the U.S. rationale. As circumstances evolve, it remains permissible to conduct certain business activities with those commodities, including re-exports, provided that the involved transactions do not engage sanctioned banks or state funds like the Bank of Russia or the National Welfare Fund.
These developments reflect ongoing adjustments in the U.S. sanctions landscape, shaped by evolving geopolitical priorities and allied coordination. Observers in Canada and the United States are watching closely for how these policies affect international trade, technology transfer, and global supply chains, particularly in the microelectronics, transport, and defense-adjacent sectors. Analysts note that the scope and enforcement of sanctions can influence investment decisions, supplier contracts, and compliance frameworks across North American markets.