Alina Kabaeva

The US Treasury Department on Tuesday sanctioned Russian President Vladimir Putin's reputed girlfriend as part of a series of measures targeting Russian ...

Natalya Valeryevna Popova was sanctioned "for operating or having operated in the technology sector of the Russian Federation economy, and for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of LLC VEB Ventures," which is a sanctioned entity. The agency has authorized a wind-down period for transactions with MMK and one of its subsidiaries. "As innocent people suffer from Russia's illegal war of aggression, Putin's allies have enriched themselves and funded opulent lifestyles," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in a statement. Among the oligarchs sanctioned by the Treasury Department Tuesday is Andrey Grigoryevich Guryev, the Russian billionaire founder of the chemical company "PhosAgro" and former government official described by the Treasury as "a known close associate" of Putin. He is also sanctioned by the UK, and according to the US Treasury, he "owns the Witanhurst estate, which is the second largest estate in London after Buckingham Palace." "MMK is one of Russia's largest taxpayers, providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation," the Treasury Department said. Alina Maratovna Kabaeva, who has been romantically linked to the Russian leader, was sanctioned "for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of the Government of the Russian Federation," a Treasury Department statement said.

The Treasury Department added Alina Kabaeva, a former star gymnast thought to be Russian President Vladimir Putin's romantic partner, to its sanctions list.

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. The United States previously imposed sanctions on Putin’s daughters from a former marriage, Katerina Tikhonova and Maria Vorontsova, after evidence emerged of alleged war crimes committed by Russian forces during their occupation of the suburbs of Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. Russia appears set to resume ground offensives, with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu telling troops on Saturday to intensify attacks “in all operational sectors” of Ukraine. “These actions will further isolate Russia’s defense and high-technology industries and limit their contributions to Moscow’s war machine.” The luxurious lifestyles of Putin’s reported girlfriends have fueled speculation about their relationships with the Russian president. Kabaeva and her family have benefited handsomely from connections to Putin’s circle, according to Russian and U.S. media reports. “As innocent people suffer from Russia’s illegal war of aggression, Putin’s allies have enriched themselves and funded opulent lifestyles,” Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said in a news release. The U.S. announcement Tuesday cited Kabaeva’s “close relationship to Putin,” though it did not point to a romantic tie specifically. Her athletic career was not without controversy, though — she had to return two medals from the 2001 Goodwill Games after a doping scandal. The latest sanctions are aimed at Russian elites and businesses operating in sectors “that generate substantial revenue for the Russian regime,” the announcement said. A classified U.S. intelligence assessment of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election listed Kabaeva as a beneficiary of Putin’s wealth, the Journal reported in April, citing a U.S. official. The United States imposed sanctions on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s reported romantic partner Tuesday, part of the latest raft of penalties targeting Kremlin-linked officials and entities in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The U.S. Treasury on Tuesday announced sanctions against Alina Kabaeva, the head of a pro-Kremlin media holding company, who has for years been rumored to ...

Putin has long denied a romantic relationship with Kabaeva. However, U.S. officials believe Kabaeva is his girlfriend and mother to at least three of his children, according to the Wall Street Journal. She and her children are believed to be living in Switzerland. Before becoming involved in the Russian government, Kabaeva was a professional rhythmic gymnast and is one of the most decorated athletes in the history of the sport, having won two Olympic medals and placed in 14 World Championships. Kabaeva, whom the Treasury said in a statement Tuesday “ has a close relationship” with Putin, has since 2014 led the National Media Group, a collection of pro-Kremlin print, television and radio outlets that is Russia’s largest privately held media conglomerate, according to the company. The U.S. Treasury on Tuesday announced sanctions against Alina Kabaeva, the head of a pro-Kremlin media holding company, who has for years been rumored to be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s girlfriend.

Russian tabloids have dubbed Alina Kabaeva "Russia's First Mistress" and even the "Secret First Lady."

His $120 million yacht, the Alfa Nero, was also identified as blocked property. The department said she is also head of a Russian national media company that promotes Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But five years later, Putin announced that he and Lyudmila had separated.

The US froze the visa of Alina Kabaeva and imposed other property restrictions on the ex-Olympic gymnast as part of another round of punitive measures taken ...

Kabaeva, 39, and Putin, 69, have been suspected lovers since 2008, though the two have never confirmed a relationship. The UK sanctioned Kabaeva in May and the EU put in place travel and asset restrictions against her in June. The US froze the visa of Alina Kabaeva and imposed other property restrictions on the ex-Olympic gymnast as part of another round of punitive measures taken against more Russian elites in response to the invasion of Ukraine.

Alina Maratovna Kabaeva, who was into rhythmic gymnastics, was forced to return two gold she had won in the 2001 Goodwill Games over a doping scandal.

She has also been sanctioned by the EU and the UK," a Treasury Department statement said on August 2. Kabaeva was placed on a sanctions list by the European Union and the United Kingdom earlier in May. Her athletic career was not without controversy, though; a doping scandal forced her to return two gold she had won in the 2001 Goodwill Games.

US Treasury says it has frozen visa of Alina Kabaeva, a former Olympic gymnast who runs media company promoting Ukraine invasion; oligarch Andrey ...

The department said she is also head of a Russian national media company that promotes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His $120 million yacht, the Alfa Nero, was also identified as blocked property. The Treasury Department said Tuesday that the government has frozen the visa of Alina Kabaeva, an Olympic gymnast in her youth and former member of the state Duma, and imposed other property restrictions.

A new round of U.S. sanctions targeting Russian elites includes a woman named in news reports as Vladimir Putin's longtime romantic partner.

His $120 million yacht, the Alfa Nero, was also identified as blocked property. The department said she is also head of a Russian national media company that promotes Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But five years later, Putin announced that he and Lyudmila had separated.