Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the US and more than 30 other countries have imposed sanctions to limit Russian access to Western technology and resources. Despite these measures, US components are still found in Russian weapons left on the battlefield in Ukraine. Assistant Secretary Matthew Axelrod spoke at the annual export control conference in Washington, revealing that letters had been sent to US companies naming more than 600 foreign countries to which shipments should be temporarily suspended because of the high risk of transshipments to Russia.
The Commerce Department has issued warnings to at least 20 companies in recent weeks as part of efforts to disrupt Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. These companies manufacture and sell products found in missiles and drones in Ukraine. The US government is urging US companies to freeze shipments to more than 600 foreign entities out of concern that the goods could be diverted to Russia for use in its invasion of Ukraine, a US official said.
Axelrod said officials from the Commerce, State and Treasury departments have been in direct contact with senior leaders of American companies to discuss additional steps they can take to prevent their products from being used in Russia. The goal is to prevent American goods from helping the Russian war effort in Ukraine. Further efforts are being made to ensure that US companies are aware of the risks and take proactive measures to prevent their products from ending up in Russia.