On Thursday, December 15, sanctions are planned to be introduced in the USA against Volodymyr Potanin, who is one of the five richest people in Russia.

However, the Nornickel company, which is his main asset, will not be affected by the sanctions.

This was reported by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, December 14, with reference to sources in the US administration. 

According to the newspaper, the sanctions list may include Potanin himself, whose fortune Forbes estimates at about $26 billion, his wife Kateryna, as well as the yacht he owns.

Investment company Interros, controlled by Potanin, and Rosbank, acquired earlier this year, will also be sanctioned. 

Norilsk Nickel Corporation ("Nornickel"), the world's leading producer of palladium and refined nickel, which was one of the biggest prizes in the post-Soviet industrial split of the 1990s, will not be sanctioned.

Sanctions, obviously, will not be introduced against Tinkoff Bank, acquired by Potanin's structures.

Unlike many big businessmen, Potanin was not included in the sanctions lists after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

This caused criticism, for example, from oppositionist Oleksii Navalny, who is in prison.

In June, Great Britain introduced sanctions against Potanin with the wording that "Potanin continues to accumulate wealth by supporting the Putin regime, buying Rosbank and shares in Tinkoff Bank after the Russian invasion of Ukraine."

In addition to Volodymyr Potanin and his wife, the US may impose personal sanctions against several members of the Russian government, the Wall Street Journal adds.


 So far, the US Treasury Department has declined to comment on the information.

It will be recalled that Great Britain introduced new sanctions on December 9, in particular against officials of Russia and Iran.

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