The United States on Thursday imposed additional sanctions against Russian private military company the Wagner Group, which U.S. officials say has been helping Russia’s military in its war in Ukraine, reports Reuters.
The U.S. Treasury Department said it designated Wagner Group as a “significant transnational criminal organization” as part of action targeting dozens of people and entities in an effort to degrade Russia’s ability to wage the war.
“Wagner personnel have engaged in an ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity, including mass executions, rape, child abductions, and physical abuse in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali,” the Treasury said in a statement.
The declaration freezes any U.S. assets that Wagner may have and prohibits Americans from providing funds, goods, or services to the group.