US and UK will target Russia’s energy sector with new sanctions as Biden prepares to leave office - Biden administration officials say the sanctions are being imposed now because they are not likely t

(Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury on Friday announced sweeping new sanctions against the Russian energy sector, including oil majors Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegaz, to try to hinder Moscow in its war with Ukraine. Britain also joined the sanctions against those two companies, the U.S. Treasury said.

The Biden administration has enacted a sweeping set of new sanctions on Russia’s oil industry, including restrictions on two major Russian oil producers and the alleged “shadow fleet” of vessels carrying Russian oil around the world, the US Treasury Department announced Friday.

The U.S. Treasury slapped sanctions on Russian companies Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas that explore, produce and sell oil and 183 vessels that have shipped Russian oil, many of which are in the so-called shadow fleet of aging tankers operated by non-Western companies. They also include networks that trade the petroleum.

President Joe Biden's administration says it's expanding sanctions against Russia's critically important energy sector over its war in Ukraine

The measures include sanctions on Russian oil producers Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, and the blacklisting of 183 vessels involved in Russian energy exports. Dozens of traders, Russia-based oilfield service providers,

Biden administration announces expanded sanctions on Russia's energy sector as Trump prepares to address Ukraine conflict

The Biden administration announced Friday it was imposing what it billed as the most significant sanctions to date on the Russian energy sector, targeting Moscow’s oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) exports just weeks before leaving office.