US Adds Russia’s Metalloinvest to Sanctions List

The measures are meant to further disrupt Russia’s importation of critical technologies used in its war against Ukraine, the Treasury Department said.

“More than one year into Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the effects of our globally coordinated sanctions have forced the Russian Federation to search for alternate routes to finance and fuel its war machine,” the US Department of State said in a statement.

“In coordination with the United Kingdom, we are targeting sanctions evasion network supporting one of Russia’s wealthiest billionaires, Alisher Usmanov, who was sanctioned by the US last year. In addition to the Usmanov-linked evasion network we are also targeting USM Holdings, the primary entity through which Usmanov owns and controls the majority of his companies,” the State Department said.

Also added to the sanctions list for being tied to Usmanov and his businesses is Vladimir Yakovlevich Streshinskiy, a member of the board of directors of USM and Metalloinvest.

With proven iron ore reserves of approximately 15.4 billion metric tons, Metalloinvest is Russia’s largest and the world’s second-largest mining company by size of iron ore reserves, according to the company’s website.

Metalloinvest’s steel segment comprises direct-reduced (DRI), billet, and long steel producer OEMK, as well as scrap recycler Ural Scrap. Its mining segment includes Lebedinsky GOK and Mikhailovsky GOK.

Metalloinvest did not immediately respond to SMU’s request for comment.

By Laura Miller, laura@steelmarketupdate.com