OFAC Russia Sanctions Screening

Checking a counterparty against the targeted but extensive US sanctions on Russia, covering finance, energy, defense, and designated people and entities.

TL;DR

TL;DR: Russia sanctions are extensive but targeted, not a blanket ban. Screening checks counterparties against designated Russian individuals and entities plus sectors such as financial services, energy, and defense.

What the Russia Program Covers

OFAC administers Russia-related sanctions under the Office of Foreign Assets Control at the US Treasury. These programs reach designated individuals, entities, and specific sectors rather than prohibiting every transaction with Russia. The exact scope shifts as designations are added or removed.

Why Screening Still Matters

Because the coverage is targeted, a counterparty that looks ordinary may still be designated or 50 percent or more owned by a blocked person. Under the 50 Percent Rule, an entity owned at that threshold by a blocked person is itself blocked. Strict liability means intent is not required when a violation occurs.

How Agents Should Handle It

An automated agent should screen the counterparty against the current SDN List before any payment. sanctionsai.dev syncs its screening data hourly and covers 19,218 SDN names and 947 OFAC-listed wallets across 16 jurisdictions, so a Russia-related designation is reflected in near real time.

Practical Guidance

• Screen before the agent pays, not after.
• Flag any match and block rather than attempting to reason around it.
• Re-screen on repeat transactions, since designations update hourly.