The United States has decided to impose sanctions on two Russian missile suppliers and a military training center.
The three entities are mentioned in an unpublished notice by the U.S. Department of State on imposition of nonproliferation measures against foreign persons, including a ban on U.S. government procurement, which is due to be published on May 22, according to the Ukrainian news outlet Hromadske.
Subject to the U.S. sanctions will be, among others, Gatchina Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Training Center (Russia); Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) Tula (Russia); Moscow Machine Building Plant Avangard (MMZ Avangard) (Russia) jointly with any of their successor, sub-unit, or subsidiary.
According to the notice, "a determination has been made that a number of foreign persons have engaged in activities that warrant the imposition of measures pursuant to Section 3 of the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act."
"No department or agency of the United States government may procure or enter into any contract for the procurement of any goods, technology, or services from these foreign persons, except to the extent that the Secretary of State otherwise may determine," it says.
What is more, no United States government sales to these foreign persons of any item on the United States Munitions List are permitted, and all sales to these persons of any defense articles, defense services, or design and construction services under the Arms Export Control Act are terminated.
The measures will be in effect for two years from the effective date.
Moscow-based Avangard, founded in 1942, is the only supplier of missiles for S-300 and S-400 air defense systems. It is part of the Almaz-Antey group since 2002.
KPB Tula, founded in 1927, manufactures firearms, ammunition, anti-aircraft defense systems, autocannons, rotary cannons, turrets, remote controlled weapon stations, anti-aircraft cannons, weapon systems for tanks and armored vehicles, missiles, ATGMs, artillery shells, mortar shells, guidance systems, precision-guided munitions, close-in weapon systems (CIWS), grenade launchers. It is part of Russia's State Corporation Rostec.