The US government is taking urgent measures to stop American companies from shipping goods to more than 600 foreign entities due to concerns that they could end up in Russia for use in its invasion of Ukraine. According to a US official, the Commerce Department has issued warnings to at least 20 companies in recent weeks as part of an effort to disrupt Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
These companies manufacture and sell items that have been found in missiles and drones recovered in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Despite the implementation of sanctions by the US and over 30 other countries, American components are still being discovered in Russian weapons left on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Assistant Secretary Matthew Axelrod spoke at the department’s annual export control conference in Washington, D.C., stating that the Commerce Department has sent letters to American companies urging them to cease shipments to the listed foreign parties due to the high risk of diversion to Russia. Senior officials from the Commerce, State, and Treasury departments have also been engaging with US companies to explore additional measures that can be taken to prevent their products from being used in Russia.
The US government is intensifying its efforts to prevent American goods from contributing to Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, as it continues its ongoing efforts to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its actions.
