US sanctions Russian officials over Crimea power plant

WASHINGTON: The United States imposed sanctions Friday on Russian officials who supplied turbines to a power plant in annexed Crimea, as well as several “ministers” from the breakaway region in eastern Ukraine.

The turbines were built by German engineering giant Siemens for delivery to Russia but were later sent to Crimea — which Russia seized from Ukraine and annexed in 2014 — by its Russian partner.

No US action has been taken against the Munich-based firm, which says it was not aware the equipment would be diverted and attempted to sue the Russian state energy firm for breach of contract. Only a handful of Russian allies have recognized Moscow’s claim on Crimea, which has not been recognized by the United Nations and which Ukraine, the United States and most of the world reject. Washington has an existing sanctions law to punish officials and public and private entities who assist in the Russian intervention in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, and regularly updates its blacklist. On Friday, it was the turn of senior Russian officials involved in the transfer of the turbines, and also several “ministers” from two pro-Russia breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine.