Washington, D.C.: Amid escalating tensions surrounding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has taken additional measures to prevent the transfer of critical technology to Russia for military purposes. A US official revealed on Thursday that American businesses are being urged to halt exports to over 600 foreign entities amid concerns that these supplies could find their way into Russia’s arsenal.
According to a spokesperson from the US Commerce Department, the recent communication to at least 20 corporations serves as a proactive step to disrupt Russia’s military endeavors in Ukraine. These companies are involved in the production and distribution of components utilized in drones and missiles, some of which have been recovered from conflict zones within Ukraine.
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Despite extensive sanctions imposed by the US and over 30 other nations following Russia’s invasion in 2022, aimed at restricting Russia’s access to Western technologies, American-made components continue to be discovered in weapons deployed by Russian forces in Ukraine. Assistant Secretary Matthew Axelrod addressed this ongoing concern at the department’s annual export control conference in Washington, D.C.
“In the last several weeks, we’ve sent letters to more than 20 American companies, each containing a list of more than 600 foreign parties,” Axelrod stated. “In those letters, we’ve requested that the American companies voluntarily stop shipping to these parties due to the high risk of transshipment to Russia.”
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Axelrod further emphasized that senior officials from the Commerce, State, and Treasury departments are actively engaging with leaders of US companies to explore additional measures that can be implemented to prevent their products from inadvertently aiding Russian military efforts.
