This report evaluates the effectiveness of U.S. sanctions targeting Russian companies and individuals using the detailed trade data from 2021-2022 compiled by the Federal Customs Service of Russia. By cross-referencing this data with the comprehensive list of U.S. Russia-focused sanctions produced by the Free Russia Foundation, the report identifies and analyzes sanctions-related changes in trade volumes, costs and geographies following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In particular, the analysis examines Russia’s imports of UAVs and microchips—two categories of controlled commodities critical to the Kremlin’s ability to wage war and sustain military aggression.
