In response to recent discoveries of American products in missiles and drones found in Ukraine, believed to have been left behind by Russia, the Department of Commerce has issued a directive urging American companies to stop supplying goods to more than 600 foreign entities. The United States is concerned that these items could be diverted to Russia for use in its invasion of Ukraine.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the US and more than 30 other nations have imposed various sanctions to hamper Russia’s military capabilities by limiting access to Western technology. Despite these efforts, US components are still found in Russian weapons deployed on Ukrainian battlefields.
To further disrupt Russian military actions in Ukraine, senior officials from the Commerce, State and Treasury departments have been working directly with US company leaders to discuss additional measures that can be taken. Letters have also been sent to over 20 US companies naming more than 600 foreign countries that pose a high risk of transshipment to Russia. In these letters, the companies were asked to voluntarily stop deliveries to these entities to prevent potential use by Russia. Assistant Secretary Matthew Axelrod mentioned during the annual export control conference that this joint effort aims to limit the availability of American technology to Russia and prevent it from using it in any capacity.