The U.S. government is urging American companies to halt shipments to more than 600 foreign entities out of concern that the goods could end up in Russia for use in its invasion of Ukraine. According to a U.S. official, the Commerce Department has issued warnings to at least 20 companies in recent weeks in an attempt 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 U.S. and over 30 other countries to limit Russia’s access to Western technology, American components are still being discovered in Russian weapons left on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Speaking at the department’s annual export control conference in Washington, D.C., Assistant Secretary Matthew Axelrod stated 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. Additionally, senior officials from the Commerce, State, and Treasury departments have been engaging with U.S. companies to explore additional measures that can be taken to prevent their products from being used in Russia.
In light of these efforts, the U.S. government is intensifying its strategies to prevent American goods from contributing to Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.