Sanctions Archives - Robert Lansing Institute

The Graham Sanctions Bill: Strategic Escalation Against Russia’s Shadow Economy

What the Lindsey Graham Sanctions Bill Is—and What It Signals The sanctions initiative associated with Lindsey Graham represents a qualitative escalation in U.S. economic warfare against Russia. Unlike earlier sanctions rounds that focused primarily…

January 8, 2026Russia, Sanctions, USA

Geoeconomics

Machine Tools of War: How Western Technology Sustains Russia’s Military-Industrial Complex Despite Sanctions

Sanctions pressure exerted by the international community produces a multi-layered, yet indirect, effect on the functioning of Russia’s military-industrial complex. This pressure drives the continuous transformation of production chains, the…

December 22, 2025Russia, Sanctions

Governance National Security

The Failure of Export Controls: A Legislative Blueprint to Prevent Technology from Powering Russia’s War Machine

On December 10, 2025, Bloomberg reported that five lawsuits had been filed in a Texas court against Intel Corp., Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Texas Instruments, and Mouser Electronics—a distributor owned by Warren…

December 11, 2025Russia, Sanctions, USA

Geoeconomics Intelligence ops National Security

Shadow Diplomacy: Moscow’s Use of Former Illegals to Access India’s High-Tech Ecosystem

A former deep-cover Russian intelligence officer, whose clandestine identity was exposed in 2010 after his arrest in the United States, is now at the forefront of the Kremlin’s efforts to…

December 10, 2025India, Russia, Sanctions

Corruption Geopolitics

Kazakhstan’s Expanding Role in Russia’s Sanctions-Evasion Architecture

Following Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine and the subsequent imposition of Western sanctions, Kazakhstan has emerged as one of the central channels enabling Moscow to access “sanctions-sensitive” goods. Trade flows…

December 1, 2025Kazakhstan, Russia, Sanctions

Warfare

Elite Glass for Elite Killers: How Austria’s Premium Optics End Up in Russia’s War Against Ukraine

The Austrian manufacturer of premium optical devices Swarovski Optik, continues to supply optical sights for sniper rifles to Russia. Deliveries continue despite the war in Ukraine and Austria’s policy of “permanent…

November 19, 2025Austria, Russia, Sanctions

Geopolitics Propaganda and Disinformation

Blocking Moscow’s Outreach: Preventing African Participation in the Russia–Africa Ministerial Conference

Participation of African countries in the Second Russia–Africa Ministerial Conference in Egypt carries both direct and indirect risks for their governments. These risks include being used in Kremlin propaganda and…

November 14, 2025Africa, Russia, Sanctions

Conflict Democracy Geopolitics

How the International Paralympic Committee Helped Moscow Break Its Isolation”

Russia is seeking to break out of political isolation and to “soften sanctions” in the non-military sphere — by overcoming restrictions in humanitarian areas, particularly sports, while simultaneously pushing the…

October 23, 2025Russia, Sanctions

Geoeconomics

Russia Under Sanctions: Diversifying Trade Routes to the East

After its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia faced unprecedented sanctions pressure from the West. Moscow’s response was to reorient its trade flows toward Asian markets — primarily South…

October 6, 2025India, Russia, Sanctions

Conflict National Security

Russia Circumvents Sanctions Through Chinese Marketplaces

Despite sweeping international sanctions, Russia continues to secure critical equipment for its defense industry by exploiting alternative supply channels. A growing share of this trade flows through Chinese e-commerce platforms,…

August 20, 2025China, Russia, Sanctions

Sanctions