Microsoft is suspending new sales in Russia

Another major tech company says no to Putin's Russia.
By Stan Schroeder  on 
Microsoft
Microsoft is taking a stand against Russian aggression. Credit: Sopa / Getty Images

Microsoft is suspending all new sales of its products and services in Russia amidst the invasion of Ukraine by Putin's forces.

In a blog post, Microsoft's president & vice chair Brad Smith also said the company's stopping "many aspects" of its business in Russia "in compliance with governmental sanctions decisions."

"Like the rest of the world, we are horrified, angered and saddened by the images and news coming from the war in Ukraine and condemn this unjustified, unprovoked and unlawful invasion by Russia," wrote Smith. "We believe we are most effective in aiding Ukraine when we take concrete steps in coordination with the decisions being made by these governments and we will take additional steps as this situation continues to evolve."

Mashable Light Speed
Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories?
Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter.
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!

Microsoft says one of its key goals is to protect Ukraine's cybersecurity, as well as help the people in Ukraine by providing technology and financial support for key nongovernmental organizations. Microsoft detailed the steps it's taking to protect Ukraine from cyberattacks in a blog post from February.

Microsoft's decision to halt sales in Russia follows similar steps taken by numerous other tech companies, including Apple, which halted sales of its products in Russia earlier this week. Social media companies, including Meta, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok and Twitter, have also employed a number of steps and strategies to reduce misinformation related to the conflict in Ukraine. And just hours ago, Airbnb suspended all of its operations in Russia and Belarus, while Google announced it's suspending all ad sales in Russia.

Topics Microsoft

Stan Schroeder
Stan Schroeder
Senior Editor

Stan is a Senior Editor at Mashable, where he has worked since 2007. He's got more battery-powered gadgets and band t-shirts than you. He writes about the next groundbreaking thing. Typically, this is a phone, a coin, or a car. His ultimate goal is to know something about everything.


Recommended For You

Windows 11 update fixes record number 147 flaws. This is why I switched to macOS.
Windows 11 on a laptop and phone

OpenAI's GPT-5 release could be as early as this summer
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaking onstage

Social media now unlawful for kids under 14 in Florida
A group of three young girls using smartphones.


More in Tech
A running list of the best deals on Mother's Day flower delivery
'love you forever' bouquet from the bouqs co.

The Supreme Court bolsters age verification rules for porn sites
A pair of hands typing on a laptop in the dark.

FKA twigs creates deepfake of herself, calls for AI regulation
FKA twigs speaks at Congressional Testimony.

Save $215 on a bundle package of NFL Sunday Ticket and YouTube TV
a group of three people sit together on a couch while drinking orange beverages from cups

Get ready for summer with up to 47% off Coleman camping gear at Amazon
two people sit on red camping chair with skewers for hot dogs while a tent sits behind them and a cooler is in the foreground

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for May 2
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon slapped with $200M fine — here’s what they illegally did with your data
User holding iPhone


NYT's The Mini crossword answers for May 2
Closeup view of crossword puzzle clues

'Wordle' today: Here's the answer hints for May 2
a phone displaying Wordle
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!