‘Putin’s Chef’ and No. 1 Troll Blasted With Fresh U.S. Sanctions
The White House announced a new wave of sanctions targeting Russian elites, oligarchs, and their families Thursday, in an attempt to further isolate Russia from international travel and financial systems as Russia wages war in Ukraine.
The sanctions go after high profile targets in Russia, including Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who the White House called out for amplifying and spreading Putin’s propaganda, and Yevgeniy Prigozhin, or “Putin’s chef,” who has stood at the helm of Russia’s Internet Research Agency, Russia’s troll army that has worked to interfere in U.S. elections for years. Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, who had his yacht so-called “Dilbar” seized by Germany on Wednesday, is also sanctioned.
The sanctions also target people working for large Russian firms that are providing support for Russia’s invasion in Ukraine.