The Trump administration has slapped sanctions on Russian individuals and entities, accusing them of interfering in the 2016 presidential election and carrying out cyber-attacks.
Ro Aram has the details.
The U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday that the sanctions target 19 individuals and five entities, marking the strongest action against Moscow since Trump took office.
The White House has long been accused of being too soft on the Kremlin and failing to use its congressionally mandated authority to punish Russia.
Of the 19 Russians, 13 of them were indicted last month by special counsel Robert Mueller, whose Russia investigation the president has repeatedly sought to discredit.
Trump has acknowledged that Moscow may have interfered in the election, but denies that there was any collusion with his campaign.
The Treasury Department also accused Russia of cyber-attacks stretching back two years that targeted the U.S. power grid including nuclear facilities.
Those listed will be subject to an asset freeze in the United States.
They will also be banned from accessing the U.S. financial system, though Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin did not say when it will be imposed.
Congressional critics, however, said more needs to be done and raised issue with the fact that some Russian officials and oligarchs close to President Putin were not targeted.
But, Mnuchin said there would be additional sanctions to hold them accountable for what he called their "destabilizing activities."
Moscow says it has already begun drawing up retaliatory measures.
On the same day, the U.S. also joined Britain, Germany and France in demanding that Russia explain how a Soviet-era nerve agent was used to poison a former Russian double agent in southern England.
The UK's allies have joined forces to point the finger at Moscow for the attack.
The Kremlin denies involvement and says it is being targeted in a political witch hunt ahead of its presidential election.
Russia is increasingly being cornered by western nations and its relationship with the EU is also starting to deteriorate.
Ro Aram, Arirang News.