On October 17, 2024, the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated one individual and three entities for their alleged involvement in the development and production of the Garpiya series of long-range attack unmanned aerial vehicle (“UAV”) used by Russia in its war against Ukraine. The designees include two companies based in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) that produce Garpiya UAVs for Russian use. OFAC also designated Russian national Artem Mikhailovich Yamshchikov and a Russia-based company that he directs and owns. Yamshchikov was sanctioned for allegedly assisting with the Russia’s development of one-way attack UAVs and the procurement of sensitive UAV components for the Garpiya series.
These designations were imposed pursuant to Executive Order 14024, as amended, for operating in Russia’s defense and related materiel sector or being owned or controlled by Yamshchikov. As a result of these designations, all property and interests in property of the designated persons within the United States or within the possession or control of a U.S. person are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving a designated person. Entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.