Four Indian companies in US sanctions list for helping in ‘Russia’s war effort’ in Ukraine

Additionally, the State Department imposed diplomatic sanctions on several senior Russian Ministry of Defense officials and defense companies

The US announced sanctions on as many as 398 companies on Wednesday, including four Indian companies along with firms from Russia, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, accusing them of helping in Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine and aid its ability to evade sanctions.

This step by the US Treasury and State departments is designed to punish “third party countries” accused of extending assistance to assist Russia in evading the thousands of sanctions that have been imposed on the country since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Reuters reported.

According to a separate report in The Indian Express, the Indian companies in the sanctions list include:

Ascend Aviation India Private Limited: This company “sent over 700 shipments to Russia-based companies” between March 2023 and March 2024, which included “over $200,000 worth of CHPL (Common High Priority List) items, such as US-origin aircraft components,” the US State Department said, and named its directors as well.

Mask Trans: This Indian company has been involved “in the supply of over $300,000 worth of CHPL items such as aviation components to Russia-based and U.S.-designated S 7 ENGINEERING LLC from June 2023 to at least April 2024,” the US said.

TSMD Global Private Limited: This India-based company shipped at least $430,000 worth of CHPL items to Russia-based companies, such as Electron Komponent, Avtovaz, VMK, and Alfa limited liability. These shipments, “which occurred between July 2023 and March 2024, included U.S.- and EU origin BIS CHPL Tier 1 and 2 items such as electronic integrated circuits, central processing units, and other fixed capacitors,” the US said.

Futrevo: The US accused this Indian company being involved in the supply of over $1.4 million worth of CHPL items “such as electronic components to Russia-based and U.S.-designated Limited Liability Company SMT-ILOGIC, the manufacturer of Orlan drones with Russia-based and U.S.-designated Special Technology Center. The shipments were from January 2023 to at least February 2024.”

Among those sanctioned by the Treasury Department are 274 companies accused of supplying Russia with advanced technology, as well as Russia-based defense and manufacturing firms that produce or finish military products that maintain the weaponry used against Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Additionally, the State Department imposed diplomatic sanctions on several senior Russian Ministry of Defense officials and defense companies, a group of China-based companies that export dual-use goods that fill critical gaps in Russia’s military-industrial base and entities and individuals in Belarus related to the Lukashenko regime’s support for Russia’s defense industry, AP reported.

Treasury's Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo said the US and its allies “are unyielding in our resolve to diminish and degrade Russia’s ability to equip its war machine and stop those seeking to aid their efforts through circumvention or evasion of our sanctions and export controls.”

Meanwhile, this is not the first time Indian companies have been placed on sanctions list by the US. In November 2023, Si2 Microsystems was added to the US’s restricted ‘Entities List’ for supplying “US-origin integrated circuits” to the Russian military despite the transfers being banned after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, without the required licence, The Indian Express reported.