The VTB Bank is a systemically important financial institution for the Government of the Russian Federation, which in turn is a major shareholder of VTB Bank. The bank itself has close ties to Russian intelligence, and its CEO was appointed by President Vladimir Putin and has defended his actions including the annexation of the Crimean peninsula. As one of Russia’s leading financial institutions, largely owned by the Government of the Russian Federation, VTB furthermore generates high revenue for the Government of the Russian Federation. In June 2022, VTB expressed its intention to recover its former subsidiary, RNCB Bank (main bank in Crimea with 70 % of customers on the peninsula), which was nationalised following the 2014 sanctions. In October 2022, President Putin signed a law authorizing the government to transfer 100 % of RNCB shares to VTB. In November 2022, the General Director of VTB announced the completion of the transfer of RNBC to VTB in the first quarter of 2023. VTB would thus become the leading bank in Crimea.
VTB Bank is therefore an entity or body supporting, materially or financially, or benefitting from the Government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine as well as a legal person, entity or body involved in economic sectors providing a substantial source of revenue to the Government of the Russian Federation, which is responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine.
Associated individuals: Andrei Leonidovitsch Kostin (President and Chairman of the Management Board); Anton Siluanov (Chairman of the Supervisory Council)