Tensions, Sanctions, and Strategic Moves: Moscow Responds, Sanctions Expand, and Asset Shifts in Ukraine and Russia

Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev warned that Moscow would retaliate if Kiev used American-made multiple launch rocket systems against facilities within the Russian Federation. The move comes as the United States again broadened sanctions, adding high-profile Russian officials and business figures to the blacklist, including Maria Zakharova, Vitaly Savelyev, and Alexei Mordashov, among others. In parallel developments, the Federal Antimonopoly Service approved the sale of McDonald’s Russia assets to the Club Hotel chain, a transfer that would bring a well-known global brand back under local management with a different corporate arrangement. In the southeastern region of Zaporizhia, authorities issued a decree outlining the expropriation of lands, natural resources, and strategic economy objects, signaling a significant shift in control over key sectors. The sequence of events reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions, economic policy adjustments, and territorial administration actions unfolding amid a broader regional context.