On Monday, April 28, the United States introduced sanctions against seven individual Russians and 17 Russian companies, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said. The new sanctions are expected to become another response to Crimea’s reunification with Russia, which was not acknowledged by the United States, as well as Russia’s stance on Ukraine.

      The United States has imposed sanctions on individuals in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. Those included in the sanctions are: Russian Presidential Envoy to Crimea Oleg Belaventsev, Rostech CEO Sergey Chemezov, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak, Director of the Federal Protective Service of the Russian Federation Yevgeny Murov, Chairman of State Duma Committee on International Affairs Alexey Pushkov, Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, and First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Vyacheslav Volodin.

      The list of sanctioned Russian companies includes Volga Group, an investment vehicle that manages assets on behalf of sanctions-hit businessman Gennady Timchenko.

      The other sanctions-hit companies designated for being owned or controlled by Timchenko or the Volga Group are soft drink producer Aquanika Holding Limited, business aviation companies Avia Group and Avia Group Nord, transportation company Sakhatrans LLC and oil and gas rail freight operator Transoil.

      The list also names banks Investcapitalbank and SMP Bank, as well as gas pipeline construction company Stroygazmontazh, owned or controlled by Boris Rotenberg and his older brother Arkady, who were sanctioned last month.

      Moscow has repeatedly warned that talking in the language of sanctions is “inappropriate and counterproductive” and warned its Western partners about the “boomerang effect” that sanctions would have.