Canada is imposing sanctions on Streit Group over Russian ties, Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced Monday, Aug. 10.
Streit Group, headquartered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and run by Canadian-Russian businessman Guerman Goutorov, is accused of supplying Russia’s military-industrial complex despite the EU having finalized their 21st sanctions package against Russia on July 23.
Canada confirmed its sanctions of the company, saying that multiple credible reports show that armoured vehicles it manufactured have been used by the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardia).
“Streit Group continues to feed Russia’s war machine and the Putin regime’s unprovoked and unjustifiable war against Ukraine,” Global Affairs Canada noted.
“These measures will disrupt the flow of technology and equipment fuelling the Kremlin’s war,” Anand said on X, adding that “Canada will continue to hold accountable individuals and entities that profit from the illegal, full-scale invasion.”
Sanctions targeting supply chain
The sanctions, imposed under Canada’s Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, are designed to reduce Russia’s military capabilities by disrupting Streit Group’s ability to supply military equipment to Russian forces.
By sanctioning the company, Canada is aligning with measures already adopted by Ukraine in 2023, alongside the EU and Switzerland in 2025, according to Global Affairs Canada.
Since 2014, Canada has sanctioned more than 3,500 individuals and entities linked to violations of Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed gratitude to both Anand and Canada, adding that “sanctions work when they are consistent and coordinated.”
Austria uncovered a separate international scheme
The announcement came on the same day that Reuters reported that Austria’s interior ministry had uncovered a separate international scheme in which a Vienna-based company supplied equipment reportedly used to produce engines for Russian cruise missiles and fighter jets, in breach of EU sanctions.
According to Austria’s interior ministry, the company used falsified end-user certificates to circumvent sanctions and obtain restricted equipment, including specialized CNC machines and metalworking tools capable of producing parts and components.
The company, which the ministry did not identify, concealed its shipments through a network of shell companies based in Turkey, the UAE, Hong Kong, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, South Korea, Poland, and Lithuania.
The equipment was reportedly delivered to companies affiliated with Rostec, Russia’s state industrial conglomerate.
Its 28-year-old Belarusian director arrested in May, according to the ministry.
21st sanctions package
The EU’s 21st sanctions package against Russia adopted measures that include a pause of the automatic adjustment of the oil price cap mechanism until July 15, 2027, as well as port access bans for Russia’s “Shadow Fleet” tankers.
The EU also targeted more than 15 crypto-related service platforms based in non-EU countries, imposed a visa ban for soldiers who fought in Russia’s war, alongside transaction bans on 33 Russian financial institutions and four banks.
As of Aug. 7, the EU introduced new sanctions targeting Russia’s military-industrial complex, in response to Russia’s deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.
Five additional individuals holding senior positions in Russian defense and military technology companies were sanctioned.