US hits Russia with sanctions after long delay

DONALD Trump’s administration levied sanctions against Russia’s top spy agencies and more than a dozen individuals on Thursday for trying to influence the 2016 US presidential election and two separate cyber attacks.

The announcement follows a lengthy delay, which had caused anger on Capitol Hill and raised questions about President Donald Trump’s willingness to confront Moscow.

The measures target five entities and 19 individuals – including the FSB, Russia’s top spy service; the military intelligence agency, or GRU; and 13 people recently indicted by Robert Mueller, the US special counsel handling a sprawling Russia probe.

Sanctions were also levied against individuals behind the separate Petya cyber attack and an “ongoing” attempt to hack the US energy grid.

The move comes despite Trump’s repeated denial that Russia tried to tilt the election in his favour, fearing it could call his victory over Hillary Clinton into question.

The US president has also decried more damaging allegations that his campaign colluded with the Kremlin – the subject of Mueller’s ongoing investigation that has seen several key aides indicted or make plea deals.

Many of the main entities and individuals hit – including the spy agencies and alleged “troll factory” boss Yevgeny Prigozhin – already face asset freezes and travel bans, either put in place under former president Barack Obama’s administration or for actions linked to Russia’s actions in the Ukraine.

Senior administration security officials said more sanctions were on the way and denied the response had been tardy.

Moscow said it was preparing its response.

“We view this calmly. We have begun to prepare response measures,” deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

He claimed the US move was designed to coincide with Russia’s presidential election tomorrow.