The US has imposed sanctions on Vladimir Potanin, the nickel tycoon and one of Russia’s wealthiest oligarchs, as it took new action to punish Moscow for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The US state and Treasury departments announced the decision on Thursday as part of a broader set of measures targeting individuals and businesses close to Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin.
Potanin is the largest shareholder and chief executive of Norilsk Nickel, making him one of the most prominent figures shaping global commodities markets. In its early round of sanctions, Washington had been reluctant to target the commodities sector for fear of destabilising global markets and further exacerbating supply chain bottlenecks and inflation.