U.S. sanctions Putin's rumored girlfriend over Ukraine war 

The United States sanctioned Alina Maratovna Kabaeva, the rumored girlfriend of Russian President Vladimir Putin, along with other personalities and oligarchs of that country on Tuesday over the war in Ukraine.

The Treasury Department said in a statement that the government froze the visa of Kabaeva, an Olympic gymnast in her youth and former member of the Duma (lower house of the Russian Parliament), who currently maintains "a close relationship" with Putin, in addition to chairing a pro-Kremlin media group.

Kremlin critics and jailed activist Alexey Navalny have called for sanctions to be imposed on Putin's alleged partner, claiming her media outlet spreads false news about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, AP reported.

The U.S. also banned 893 Russian officials, including members of the Army and the Senate, from entering the country and sanctioned several Russian companies for their involvement in the war.

In addition to Kabaeva, who has previously been sanctioned by the European Union and Canada, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Andrey Grigoryevich Guryev, an oligarch who owns the Witanhurst estate, a 25-room mansion that is the second largest property in London after Buckingham Palace.

His $120 million yacht, the Alfa Nero, also appears on the new list of black-listed properties. His son Andrey Andreevich Guryev and his investment firm Dzhi AI Invest OOO were also sanctioned. 

"While innocent people suffer from Russia's illegal war of aggression, Putin's allies have enriched themselves and funded opulent lifestyles," said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also announced sanctions against three other oligarchs, a Russian state-owned company overseen by the Ministry of Transportation, "four individuals and one entity operating illegitimately on the territory of Ukraine in collaboration with Russia," and 24 Russian defense and technology companies. 

The UK sanctioned 39-year-old Kabaeva in May, while the European Union imposed travel and asset restrictions against her in June.