US Treasury removes Russian individuals, firms and ships from sanctions list

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced the removal of seven Russian citizens, two vessels and two Turkish companies from its sanctions list tied to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Among those taken off the list are Iwan Potanin, son of Norilsk Nickel founder Vladimir Potanin, and board members of Russian banks Otkrytie, Sovkombank and Novikombank. The two ships are linked to the State Transport Leasing Company, and the Turkish firms include elevator manufacturer IDA Asansor.

The Treasury provided no public justification for the deletions. This action follows a similar move the day before, which removed three other Russian figures—including Gazprombank director Natalia Puzyrnikova—and earlier revisions that had cleared former finance minister Mikhail Zadornov and other elite members. Officials say the changes are part of a broader review and modernization of U.S. sanctions policy toward Russia.