There is no new product or service sales from Microsoft in Russia, and the company also states that they assisted thwart a Russian hack on Ukrainian businesses.
A few weeks ago, Microsoft indicated it would do the same thing as Apple in Russia, after Google’s announcement that it would no longer sell advertising there. New blog post by Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith reveals the company’s compliance with U.S. and EU sanctions on Russia, as well as its decision to discontinue “many” portions of its business there.
“Like the rest of the world, we are appalled, angry, and saddened by the sights and stories emanating from the conflict in Ukraine and condemn this unwarranted, unprovoked, and illegitimate invasion by Russia,” says Brad Smith in the blog. All new sales of Microsoft goods and services in Russia have been halted as of today.
Also, we are working closely with the governments of the United States, EU, and UK,” he says, “and we are halting various areas of our business in Russia in accordance with national sanctions decisions.”
When it comes to sales and services, “new” is expressly mentioned. However, it is not yet known what will happen to the company’s Russian contract.
Another statement from Microsoft’s Smith is that the company is “continually mobilising our resources [to aid] Ukraine.” In addition to providing financial and technological help, this initiative also involves protecting organisations from “ongoing cyberattacks.”
On the cybersecurity front, “our single most significant area of activity, almost definitely,” Smith said. In response to a recent hack on a major Ukrainian station, the US government said it is “continuing to work proactively to assist Ukrainian cybersecurity authorities protect against Russian intrusions.”
For more than 20 Ukrainian government, IT and financial sector entities, we’ve taken “destructive or disruptive actions” against Russia since the conflict started, he added. “We have also taken action against hacks on more civilian locations,” he said.
Many Russians were affected by the Ukraine invasion, and Apple Pay stopped working for them. That was followed by independent third-party Apple dealers shutting their brick-and-mortar outlets in Russia.
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Google originally restricted all advertising sales purchased by Russian state-owned media. Google has now lifted this restriction. Ad sales in the area have now been halted by the company. It also says that the nation has demanded censorship on several occasions. Source