Secretary of State Marco Rubio has determined that Russian national Sergey Sergeyevich Zelenyuk, Saint Petersburg-based Matrix LLC and Dubai-based Special Technology Services LLC FZ meet the criteria for sanctions under the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act of 2022 (PAIPA). The determinations and the selected sanctions took effect on February 24, 2026, and were made public on November 2, 2026. The Secretary acted under PAIPA and a Presidential Memorandum of July 19, 2024, which delegated functions and authorities under the act. He selected the sanctions in consultation with the heads of other relevant agencies, as appropriate.
The Grounds Stated
According to the State Department, Zelenyuk and Matrix LLC were each identified under section 2(a)(1)(A)(i) of PAIPA as foreign persons that knowingly engaged in, or benefitted from, significant theft of trade secrets of United States persons. The department states that this theft occurred on or after January 5, 2023, and is reasonably likely to result in, or has materially contributed to, a significant threat to the national security, foreign policy, or economic health or financial stability of the United States. Special Technology Services LLC FZ was identified under section 2(a)(1)(A)(iii) as a foreign person owned or controlled by Zelenyuk, or one that has acted or purported to act for or on his behalf, directly or indirectly. The department does not identify which trade secrets were taken or which United States persons held them.
Sanctions Selected
The sanctions selected fall under section 2(b)(1)(A), (D), (H), (I) and (J) of PAIPA. For the two companies, the entries list blocking of property, restrictions on loans from United States financial institutions, foreign exchange, banking transactions, and a ban on investment in the equity or debt of the sanctioned person. Zelenyuk's entry lists blocking of property for an individual under section 2(b)(2)(a).
Who Is Covered
Zelenyuk was born on March 17, 1994, in Saint Petersburg and holds Russian nationality. The listing gives an address on Rimsky-Korsakov Prospect in Saint Petersburg and a Russian tax identification number. It also records the aliases Sergei Sergeevich Zelenyuk and Sergey Sergeevich Zelenyuk, along with the handles "MORTENOIR" and "SRGSRGSRG111".
Matrix LLC, established on September 27, 2021, is also known as LLC Matritsa, Matrix Limited, Matrix Ltd, Operation Zero and OPZERO. It is registered at an address on Petergofskoe highway in the Sosnovaya Polyana municipal district of Saint Petersburg. Special Technology Services LLC FZ, established on December 7, 2024, is located at the Meydan Grandstand in Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The listing records the Dubai company as linked to Zelenyuk.
The action was signed by Hugo Y. Yon, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Department's Bureau of Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs. The department names Andrew J. Weinschenk, Director of the Office of Global Sanctions and Threat Finance, as the contact for further information.