The US Department of the Treasury recently announced that several Russian IT companies, including Astra Group and IBS group, have been added to the sanctions list. These companies were targeted due to their involvement in the technological sector of the Russian economy, according to Interfax.
The Astra Group was specifically called out for its part in developing an operating system that is heavily relied upon by the Russian defense industry and armed forces. Similarly, the IBS group of companies found themselves on the SDN List due to their roles in projects like digitizing the Rostec state corporation and creating software solutions for government agencies.
This is not the first time Russian IT companies have faced sanctions. In 2022, approximately 30 Russian companies linked to microelectronics were also added to the SDN List. Additionally, Anatoly Karachinsky, the founder and beneficiary of the IBS group, was previously included in the SDN List for serving on the board of directors at Otkritie Bank in April 2022 – prompting him to sell his stake in IBS to the group’s management, as reported by Interfax.