By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Justice Department launched a task force called “KleptoCapture”, which aims to strain Russia’s oligarchs finances as America presses Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine.

Attorney General Merrick Galrland stated in a statement that the task force of interagency law enforcement officers will work to enforce sanctions, export restrictions, and economic countermeasures intended to block Russia from global markets.

Named after the Greek word for corruption, kleptocracy is a term that refers to corrupt people who use their power to gain wealth at the expense or those they manage.

“To those bolstering the Russian regime through corruption and sanctions evasion: we will deprive you of safe haven and hold you accountable,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “Oligarchs be warned: we will use every tool to freeze and seize your criminal proceeds.”

Monaco’s office will oversee the operation of this task force. It will also be charged with investigating and prosecuting sanctions violations. To seize illegally obtained assets, it will apply civil and criminal forfeiture laws.

Tuesday night’s State of the Union address by President Joe Biden criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin over his attack on Ukraine.

Biden stated that he believed he would be able to roll into Ukraine, and then the whole world would collapse. Instead, he found a wall to his strength that he could not have imagined. The Ukrainian people were his friends.”