The US Department of State announced on Friday that additional sanctions will be imposed on the Russian state-controlled media company RT, which supports the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
American sanctions have previously been directed against RT (formerly Russia Today) and two of its leading employees; Friday's decision adds that RT is a direct part of the Russian war machine.
The US claims that the company is conducting fundraising campaigns to finance sniper rifles and bulletproof vests for Russian soldiers in Ukraine.
RT wants its secret intelligence work, including its long-standing attempts to spread disinformation, to continue in secret, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in connection with the decision.
The new sanctions are directed against RT's parent company TV-Novosti, as well as the media organization Rossija Segodnja and its CEO. Sanctions also affect a third company and its CEO Nelli Parutenko.