A new tranche of U.S. sanctions seeking to punish Russia for atrocities in the Kyiv region took aim this week at some unexpected targets: the adult daughters of the Russian president and family members of other officials.
The measures announced Wednesday included sanctions against Katerina Tikhonova and Maria Vorontsova, both of whom are widely considered to be Vladimir Putin’s daughters from his first marriage. They also targeted Maria Lavrova, the wife of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and their adult child, Ekaterina Lavrova.
For Western policymakers, imposing sanctions on the family members of prominent figures can ramp up pressure on targeted individuals, or snag assets listed under a relative’s name.
“We believe that many of Putin’s assets are hidden with family members, and that’s why we’re targeting them,” a senior U.S. administration official said Wednesday.
Here’s what to know about the sanctions targeting the family members of Putin and his inner circle.