Information on current Russian losses due to sanctions as of 02/22/2026.
1. On February 21, in Russian Saransk, a Ukrainian drone strike hit an instrument-making plant.
– A fire occurred in the area of the defense-industrial complex enterprise — the Saransk Instrument-Making Plant on Vasenka Street.
– The fire engulfed one of the workshops over an area of about 150 square meters. Smoke rose from the territory of PJSC “Elektrovipryamitel,” one of Russia’s largest power electronics manufacturers for army needs.
– Independent sources and Ukrainian monitoring channels report a Ukrainian drone attack. “Elektrovipryamitel” specializes in the production of rectifiers, inverters, power supplies, and converters — equipment used in military equipment and part of the defense order system.
– The enterprise is under sanctions by the USA, Canada, EU, UK, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Japan due to its participation in supporting the Russian military-industrial complex.
2. A shortage of gas motor fuel has arisen in several regions of Russia.
– Interruptions in the supply of liquefied hydrocarbon gas have already led to the partial closure of gas stations and halted sales in several regions.
– Market participants report a critical reduction in reserves. Due to railway transportation delays, about 2,500 tons of gas have accumulated at one station, not being unloaded, while operators received approximately 1,800 tons less fuel — equivalent to a month’s sales volume for some networks.
– The situation threatens the fulfillment of contracts with state and municipal structures, particularly in public transportation and military facility supply. Some companies already report completely exhausted reserves in certain regions.
– Reasons cited include logistical disruptions as well as producers’ decisions to reorient significant volumes to exports as early as December.
– As a result, the internal market faces a shortage, demonstrating a growing imbalance in the fuel sector and increasing internal risks amid external constraints.
3. A tanker with Russian diesel fuel is heading towards Cuba — and this may become a direct test of Donald Trump’s declared “blockade.”
– The Sea Horse vessel is carrying about 200,000 barrels of Russian gas oil, necessary for transportation and power generation. The cargo was likely obtained via a ship-to-ship transfer off the coast of Cyprus, a tactic often used to disguise the origin of the fuel.
– The tanker is expected to arrive on the island at the beginning of March. This situation unfolds amidst strong statements from the US president about potential restrictive measures against countries that continue supplying oil products to Cuba.
– Previously, the American side has detained at least nine vessels involved in transporting sanctioned oil. If the Sea Horse unloads without hindrance, it would cast doubt on the effectiveness of the declared containment policy.
4. In Sweden, a Russian citizen was detained at the request of the US in a case related to sanctions evasion.
– The arrest was carried out based on an international warrant. According to the American side, the Russian was involved in US sanctions evasion schemes during 2022–2023. Last summer, a US court issued a warrant for his arrest in absentia, after which he was declared internationally wanted.
– At the end of December, the man was detained on Swedish territory. The Stockholm District Court decided to arrest him pending consideration of the extradition issue. The final decision will be made by the Attorney General, the Supreme Court, and the Swedish government.
– The procedure will proceed through diplomatic channels. This situation indicates increased international coordination in prosecuting individuals involved in sanctions evasion and growing risks for Russian citizens participating in such schemes outside Russia.
5. The State Security Service of one of the Baltic countries stated that placing funds in Russian banks under EU sanctions is a violation of the sanctions regime for all EU residents, including Russian citizens with residence permits.
– The clarification was prompted by the intelligence service’s appeal to the prosecutor’s office demanding a criminal case against an EU citizen who worked as a programmer in a Russian company and received a salary in a sanctioned bank account.
– The agency believes that this case involves a double violation: providing prohibited services to a Russian company and transferring funds to a legal entity included in the sanctions lists.
– Sanctions restrictions prohibit the direct or indirect provision of financial resources to individuals and entities under EU sanctions.
– According to the position of the intelligence service, this rule applies to any EU resident regardless of citizenship.
– Thus, Russians with residence permits in EU countries who continue working for Russian clients and receive payments through sanctioned banks risk criminal liability.
– The situation illustrates increased control over compliance with sanctions and the narrowing of opportunities for financial interaction with the Russian banking system under international restrictions.
