The European Union later today will release the names of 15 Russian officials and oligarchs added to the list of targeted sanctions.  The US announced it added seven more prominent Russians to a blacklist, subjecting them to visa bans and asset freezes.  And it’s all because of “Russia’s continued illegal intervention in Ukraine”.

Two of the officials are particularly close to Russian President Vladimir Putin:  Igor Sechin is Russia’s biggest oil baron, and known as the “scariest man on Earth,” because of his espionage background reputation for ruthlessness.  He controls 40 percent of Russia’s crude oil production, and is reportedly utterly loyal to Putin.  Sechin reportedly worked behind the scenes to help Putin consolidate power.

“Sechin is easily the most influential person in the country after Putin,” said political analyst Sergei Markov, who spoke with western reporters.  “Putin trusts him more than anyone else.”

Vyacheslav Volodin is Putin’s first deputy chief of staff.  He is widely believed to run the Kremlin’s internal political strategy. 

The US hopes that by putting pressure on these men, they will in turn lead Putin towards a more moderate path in Ukraine.

Washington and Brussels were spurred into action because seven European military monitors are being held hostage by pro-Russian separatists in Sloviansk, eastern Ukraine.  The separatists are holding at least 40 people, including journalists and pro-Kiev activists.  Officials say they’re being directed by Moscow.

The new sanctions come after unknown gunmen shot and critically wounded the mayor of Kharkiv, another city in eastern Ukraine.  Hennadiy Kernes was shot in the back while jogging.