President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky imposed sanctions for 10 years against 300 individuals and 141 legal entities. The corresponding decree is published on the President's website.
The list of individuals included Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is subject to asset freezes, trade restrictions and a number of other measures.
In November 2022, the FBK released an investigation into the commander of the joint grouping of Russian troops in Ukraine, Sergei Surovikin. In addition to the fact that during the command of Surovikin in Syria he was called “General Armageddon” or “Syrian Butcher” for his particular cruelty, he also managed to make money in the war. Through his wife's company, Surovikin receives money from Gennady Timchenko, who is one of the main beneficiaries of the presence of Russian troops in Syria. In early 2017, Bashar al-Assad ratified the contract and gave the right to Stroytransgaz, owned by Timchenko, to extract and export phosphates from two Syrian deposits near Palmyra. According to FBK, the deal was concluded on the condition that 70% of the profits are received by a subsidiary of Stroytransgaz, STG Logistics, and 30% by the Syrian government.
