Russian individuals, entities sanctioned

Mr Trump has faced fierce criticism in the USA for doing too little to punish Russia for the election meddling and other actions, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether his campaign colluded with the Russians, an allegation the president denies.

But a closer look at the list of five entities and 19 individuals added to the sanctions list shows that the move is largely symbolic: About a third had already been sanctioned under the Obama and Trump administrations, and the individual-level sanctions are unlikely to have an effect on the Russian economy. I’m glad that at least France, Germany, the US, and the United Kingdom have come out and fingered Russian Federation as the culprit – that is good, quick work to attribute it to the Kremlin.

“This seems like a coordinated action between multiple departments to expose multiple Russian activities”, Hultquist says.

But Thursday’s alert provided a link to an analysis by the us cyber security firm Symantec last fall that said a group it had dubbed Dragonfly had targeted United States and European energy companies and in some cases successfully broken into the core systems that control the companies’ operations.

“(It’s) something that should never, ever happen. Critics have said the White House has been too easy on the Kremlin since the last major USA polls.

His administration slapped financial sanctions against numerous same individuals recently charged in the Robert Mueller probe.

The move comes despite Trump’s repeated denial that Russian Federation tried to tilt the election in his favor, fearing it could call his victory over Hillary Clinton into question.

It described other ominous activity as well.

The Homeland Security Department says a Russian government hacking operation has affected the US nuclear, aviation, water, construction and manufacturing sectors.

The Trump administration said a concerted hacking operation targeting the US energy grid, aviation systems and other infrastructure. The attacks are ongoing, he continued, but all the known penetrated systems have been protected.

Trump said Thursday “it looks like” Russian Federation was behind that attack.

The Russians responded with frustration and professed disbelief. They came as the USA joined European allies in blaming Russian Federation for a nerve agent attack in Britain, deeming the action a “clear violation” of global law.

Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, told the Interfax news agency on Thursday that Moscow was prepared for the new round of sanctions. One U.S. official put the toll at $10 billion.

Christopher Furlong via Getty Images Police officers in forensics suits and protective masks work at the scene of the poisoning of Sergei Skripal on March 13, 2018 in Salisbury, England.

Katie Pavlich at Townhall writes “a number of Russian Federation government entities hacked into the us energy sector contributing to the broader power grid, with successful intrusions into USA systems”. “The Russians have really gone overboard in doing bad things, and there’s a general consensus now in the USA intelligence and military that we need to push back”.

Many targets of Thursday’s actions were already on USA sanctions lists. The White House insisted Trump has been tough, an assertion questioned by the opposition party.

The subpoena is a sign that the Mueller investigation continues to pick up steam, even as Trump decries remaining questions about potential coordination between his associates and Russian Federation and denies any wrongdoing.

Still, White House officials joined the U.S. Treasury, the FBI, Homeland Security, and intelligence agencies in making today’s announcement.

“Hard as it may be to believe, it looks like the White House attitude towards Russian Federation is hardening”, says James Lewis, the director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Technology and Public Policy Program.