INSIGHTi

Russia’s 2022 Invasion of Ukraine: Overview
of U.S. Sanctions and Other Responses
Updated July 6, 2022
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an undeclared war against Ukraine, a country Russia first invaded
and partially occupied in 2014. The United States and many countries around the world have condemned
Russia’s “unprecedented military aggression” as “unprovoked and unjustified.” On March 2, 2022, the
U.N. General Assembly voted 141-5 to demand Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally
withdraw” from Ukraine (47 countries, including China and India, abstained or did not vote).
After Russia launched its 2022 war, the United States, the European Union (EU), and others substantially
increased military, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine and imposed a series of increasingly
severe sanctions on Russia. In addition, hundreds of U.S. and other companies have withdrawn,
suspended, or curtailed operations in or with Russia.
Congress has provided substantial financial support for Ukraine and has supported sanctions and related
measures against Russia. The Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (USAA; P.L. 117-103, Div.
N) and the Additional Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (AUSAA; P.L. 117-128) include
almost $54 billion in assistance for Ukraine and “countries impacted by the situation in Ukraine,” direct
support of U.S. military operations in Europe, and support of U.S. government agency responses to
Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Congress also has passed legislation prohibiting the import to the United States of Russian oil and other
energy products (P.L. 117-109), suspending normal trade relations with Russia and its ally Belarus (P.L.
117-110), and enabling the expedited leasing or lending of U.S. defense articles to Ukraine (P.L. 117-118).
In addition, the House has passed the Ukraine Invasion War Crimes Deterrence and Accountability Act
(H.R. 7276), which would direct the President to submit a report to Congress on efforts to collect
evidence related to war crimes and other atrocities. The House and Senate have passed related resolutions
(H.Res. 956, S.Res. 546).
U.S. Sanctions
Prior to Russia’s renewed invasion of Ukraine, the United States had imposed sanctions on Russia in
response to its 2014 invasion of Ukraine and other malign activities (see CRS Report R45415, U.S.
Sanctions on Russia). Beginning in December 2021, the United States and others warned Russia’s
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leadership that a new attack on Ukraine would lead to severe new sanctions (in addition to increased
security assistance to Ukraine and an enhanced NATO presence in Central and Eastern Europe).
Sanctions and related actions the Biden Administration has imposed on Russia since February 21, 2022,
include the following:
 Full blocking sanctions (including restrictions on transactions and access to U.S.-based
property or interests in property) on
 Russian President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, and
members of Russia’s Security Council and Administration, including
ministers of foreign affairs, defense, finance, and economic development and
the head of the armed forces;
 The State Duma (the lower house of Russia’s legislature) and most of its
members;
 Six of Russia’s largest banks, including state-owned Sberbank (one of
Russia’s top five companies) and VTB Bank and privately held Alfa Bank;
 VEB, a large state development bank, and the Russian Direct Investment
Fund, a sovereign wealth fund;
 Rostec, a major state-owned defense, industrial, and technology
conglomerate; Alrosa, the world’s largest diamond-mining company; and
Severstal, a major steel producer;
 Nord Stream 2 AG, the parent company for a natural gas pipeline project;
 Members of Russia’s Kremlin-connected business elite (sometimes referred
to as oligarchs), family members, and business executives. In coordination
with international partners, the U.S. Department of Justice established
interagency Task Force KleptoCapture to strengthen enforcement of
sanctions and other measures;
 Dozens of aerospace and defense-industrial firms, disinformation and
propaganda operations, sanctions evaders, and virtual currency mining
companies; and
 Belarusian individuals and entities.
 Restrictions on transactions with Russia’s central bank, limiting its ability to draw on
dollar-denominated foreign reserves, and transactions with Russia’s Ministry of Finance
and National Wealth Fund.
 Export controls on trade with Russia and Belarus, including restrictions on “sensitive
U.S. technologies produced in foreign countries using U.S.-origin software, technology,
or equipment.” Export controls target Russia’s defense, aerospace, and maritime sectors;
energy production; and “a wide range of commercial and industrial operations.”
 Suspension of normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus.
 Ban on the U.S. import of Russian crude oil, petroleum products, liquefied natural gas,
coal, gold, diamonds, seafood, and alcoholic beverages.
 Ban on the export of U.S. luxury goods and dollar-denominated banknotes and the
provision of certain accounting, legal, and consulting services.
 Ban on new U.S. investment in Russia.
 Ban on Russian aircraft entering and using U.S. airspace.
 Ban on Russian-affiliated vessels entering U.S. ports.

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 Restrictions on secondary-market transactions by U.S. financial institutions in Russian
sovereign debt (previous restrictions applied to primary-market transactions).
 Restrictions against new equity investment and financing for companies including
 Gazprom, a state-owned energy company and Russia’s largest firm;
 Sovcomflot, Russia’s largest maritime and freight shipping firm; and
 Russian Railways.
 Additional visa restrictions on at least 3,100 Russian military officers and 650 Russian
officials and others.
 Prohibitions on U.S. trade or investment in Russia-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine and
sanctions against those operating in those areas.
Also see CRS In Focus IF12062, New Financial and Trade Sanctions Against Russia, and CRS In Focus
IF12092, Russia’s War on Ukraine: The Economic Impact of Sanctions.
International Sanctions
The EU, the United Kingdom, other non-EU countries in Europe (including Switzerland), Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan, among others, have imposed
sanctions, export controls, or both in response to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Many of these sanctions are identical or similar to U.S. sanctions. Two days before Russia’s attack, the
German government suspended certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, preventing it from becoming
operational. The EU, with U.S. support, prohibited the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial
Telecommunication (SWIFT) and other specialized financial messaging services from serving 10 leading
Russian financial institutions. An EU ban on most Russian oil imports is to come into effect in December
2022. The EU has not banned Russian natural gas imports. For more, see CRS Insight IN11897, Russia’s
Invasion of Ukraine: European Union Responses and Implications for U.S.-EU Relations.

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Author Information

Cory Welt

Specialist in Russian and European Affairs




Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff
to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of
Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of
information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role.
CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United
States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However,
as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the
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