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Re:

Which Russian Companies Did the U.S. Sanction for Links to the FSB?

Treasury’s 2018, 2021 and 2022 actions named Russian companies for different alleged FSB relationships, from cyber support and ownership to procurement and licensing. Historical announcements do not confirm current OFAC status.
From TheFinanceBase Team4 min to read
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The U.S. Treasury announced sanctions on several Russian companies it said supported, were owned or supervised by, procured equipment for, or held licenses from the Federal Security Service (FSB). The examples span actions in 2018, 2021 and 2022; they are not a complete list, and the relationship Treasury described differs by company.

Companies named in Treasury actions

The table summarizes selected company-related examples from Treasury announcements. The descriptions are Treasury’s claims and characterizations, not independent findings here. The dates below are the announcement years specified in the cited releases.

Company Treasury-described relationship or activity Action
Digital Security Treasury said the company provided material and technological support to the FSB. Designated in April 2018. U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2018
ERPScan and Embedi Treasury identified them as entities owned or controlled by Digital Security. Designated in April 2018. U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2018
Kvant Treasury described Kvant as owned or controlled by, and supervised by, the FSB, and as providing material or technological support. It also said Kvant was prime contractor on a project for which the FSB was the end user. Designated in April 2018. U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2018
Divetechnoservices Treasury said the company procured underwater equipment for Russian government agencies, including the FSB. The release described a 2011 contract to procure a submersible craft for the FSB valued at $1.5 million; this was the value of that contract, not an overall sanctions amount. Designated in April 2018. U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2018
Neobit Treasury said Neobit conducted research and development supporting cyber operations of the FSB, GRU and SVR. Designated in April 2021. U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2021
AST Treasury said AST provided technical support to cyber operations conducted by Russian intelligence services and was designated for support to the FSB. Designated in April 2021. U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2021
Positive Technologies Treasury described the company as supporting Russian government clients, including the FSB; providing network-security solutions to a range of customers; and hosting large conventions it said were used as recruiting events for the FSB and GRU. Designated in April 2021. U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2021
Echelon Union for Science and Development Treasury described Echelon as an information-security systems integrator licensed by the FSB and other Russian authorities. Named in a broad Russia technology-sector sanctions action in September 2022. U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2022
Solar Security Treasury described the cybersecurity company as holding an FSB license to develop, produce and distribute encryption services. Named in a broad Russia technology-sector sanctions action in September 2022. U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2022

What “linked to the FSB” means in these cases

The phrase covers materially different claims. In 2018, Treasury described support to the FSB, ownership or supervision, and procurement for government agencies. Its 2021 announcement focused on research, technical support and other activity it said supported Russian intelligence services’ cyber operations. The 2022 release described licensing relationships in the context of a broad technology-sector action. Holding a license is not the same factual allegation as conducting operational cyber support.

These announcements should not be read as one uniform accusation or as a ranking of company threat levels. They also do not establish a total number of Russian companies linked to the FSB; Treasury’s cited examples are selected, not exhaustive.

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What a U.S. blocking designation generally does

Treasury says that when a person is designated under the relevant blocking authorities, that person’s property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from transactions with designated persons. Exemptions and OFAC licenses may apply, so a specific transaction requires checking the applicable rules and authorizations rather than relying on this general description. Treasury’s 2018 announcement and 2021 announcement describe these effects.

The 2021 announcement also explains OFAC’s 50 Percent Rule: an entity owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons is itself blocked, even if it is not separately named on the SDN List. Ownership screening therefore matters in addition to checking an entity’s exact name. Treasury, 2021

Entity-specific claims are not the same as sector sanctions

OFAC explains that Executive Order 14024 permits sanctions on persons determined to operate or have operated in specified sectors of the Russian economy. As of January 10, 2025, OFAC FAQ 1126 listed technology, defense and related materiel, financial services, aerospace, electronics, marine, accounting, trust and corporate formation services, management consulting, and quantum computing. This sector authority is distinct from the specific FSB relationships Treasury described for individual companies. See OFAC FAQ 1126 for the sector framework and consult current OFAC guidance for later changes.

Check current status before relying on an old announcement

A historical Treasury announcement establishes that an action was announced at that time; it does not establish whether a company remains listed today. Before a payment, contract or other compliance decision, search current OFAC data for the exact entity and relevant aliases, check ownership and applicable licenses or exemptions, and consult qualified sanctions counsel when needed. The practical result depends on current list data and the facts of the proposed transaction.

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Related FSB cyber action

In 2023, Treasury described an FSB unit associated with tailored spear-phishing activity known by names including Callisto, Seaborgium and Star Blizzard, and designated two individuals associated with the group. That action provides context for Treasury’s stated concerns about FSB cyber activity; it was not the company-designation action and is not evidence about the companies above. U.S. Department of the Treasury, 2023

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