(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) WASHINGTON, March 30 (KUNA) -- The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned on Thursday one individual for attempting to facilitate arms deals between Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
In a press statement, the OFAC identified the sanctioned individual as a Slovakian national Ashot Mkrtychev (Mkrtychev).
It noted that between the end of 2022 and early 2023, Mkrtychev worked with DPRK officials to obtain over two dozen kinds of weapons and munitions for Russia in exchange for materials ranging from commercial aircraft, raw materials, and commodities to be sent to the DPRK.
"Russia has lost over 9,000 pieces of heavy military equipment since the start of the war, and thanks in part to multilateral sanctions and export controls, Putin has become increasingly desperate to replace them," said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen in a press statement.
"Schemes like the arms deal pursued by this individual show that Putin is turning to suppliers of last resort like Iran and the DPRK."
Yallen re-affirmed the US commitment to degrading Russia's military-industrial capabilities, as well as exposing and countering Russian attempts to evade sanctions and obtain military equipment from the DPRK or any other state that is prepared to support its war in Ukraine.
According to the Treasury's statement, sanctions and export controls imposed by a coalition of over 30 countries have constrained Russia's ability to replace lost military equipment and supplies with modern technology.
At the same time, the United States and its partners are continuing to provide Ukraine with advanced weapons to defend itself against Russia's brutal war of choice.
As a result of today's action, pursuant to E.O. 13551, all property and interests in property of the person named above that are in the United States, or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked person are also blocked. (end)
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