2,600 Russian And Belarusian Officers Subject To US Visa Ban, Including Suspected Responsibility For Bucha Tragedy

JAKARTA - United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new visa ban for more than 2,600 Russian and Ukrainian military officers, including those believed to be operating in Bucha, a city outside Kyiv where Russian troops are accused of executing residents.

Announcing the new policy of visa restrictions targeting Russian and pro-Russian troops in Ukraine, the State Department said it imposed a ban on 2,596 Russian military personnel and 13 Belarusian military officials. The visa ban applies to officials and their immediate family members.

"Among this group are personnel who reportedly took part in Russian military activities in Bucha, the horror of which has shocked the world," Foreign Minister Blinken said in a statement.

The visa ban comes amid a series of fresh US sanctions, after President Joe Biden and other Group of Seven (G7) leaders met virtually with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday, pledging to further isolate Russia and its economy.

The State Department also blacklisted eight Russian maritime-related companies and 69 ships, which will now appear off the US Treasury's sanctions list, preventing them from doing business in the United States or with US persons.

Companies targeted include the Russian Ministry of Defense shipping company and Fertoing, a specialized marine engineering firm that manufactures remotely operated underwater equipment but will now be blocked from accessing US technology, Foreign Minister Blinken said.

Ukrainian officials say hundreds of civilians were found dead after Russian troops left the city of Bucha. However, Russian officials say the killings were fake.