Microsoft halts new sales of products and services in Russia

Mar 4, 2022

Microsoft is suspending all new sales of its products and services in Russia following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This is after the company said it was providing technical advice to the Ukrainian government on steps to prevent destructive malware operations it had identified in systems belonging to multiple Ukrainian government agencies and organizations.

Microsoft President and Vice-Chair, Brad Smith, noted the company will continue to mobilize resources to help the people in Ukraine. It is taking steps to avoid the spread of disinformation and promote instead independent and trusted content. As well as matching employee contributions and providing technology support to first responders to provide help.

Microsoft’s announcement comes after Apple and Google also took actions in response to the Russian invasion. Apple stopped all exports into the sales channel in the country and is limiting Apple Pay and other services. Google, Snapchat and Twitter are all pausing ads and blocking monetizing of content.

Here is the full statement about suspension in Russia

Like the rest of the world, we are horrified, angered and saddened by the images and news coming from the war in Ukraine and condemn this unjustified, unprovoked and unlawful invasion by Russia.

We are announcing today that we will suspend all new sales of Microsoft products and services in Russia.

In addition, we are coordinating closely and working in lockstep with the governments of the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, and we are stopping many aspects of our business in Russia in compliance with governmental sanctions decisions.

Our single most impactful area of work almost certainly is the protection of Ukraine’s cybersecurity. We continue to work proactively to help cybersecurity officials in Ukraine defend against Russian attacks, including most recently a cyberattack against a major Ukrainian broadcaster.

Since the war began, we have acted against Russian positioning, destructive or disruptive measures against more than 20 Ukrainian government, IT and financial sector organizations. We have also acted against cyberattacks targeting several additional civilian sites. We have publicly raised our concerns that these attacks against civilians violate the Geneva Convention.

We are also continuing to mobilize our resources to help the people in Ukraine. Our Microsoft Philanthropies and UN Affairs teams are working closely with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and multiple UN agencies to help refugees by providing technology and financial support for key NGOs and, where needed, we are defending these groups from ongoing cyberattacks.

As a company, we are committed to the safety of our employees in Ukraine and we are in constant contact with them to offer support in many forms, including those who have needed to flee for their lives or safety.

Like so many others, we stand with Ukraine in calling for the restoration of peace, respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and the protection of its people.

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