The U.S. government has taken steps to prevent American companies from shipping goods to more than 600 foreign parties, as per a recent statement by Assistant Secretary Matthew Axelrod of the Commerce Department. The letters were sent to at least 20 companies, each containing a list of over 600 foreign parties, requesting that they voluntarily halt shipments due to the significant risk of transshipment to Russia. These companies manufacture and sell products that have been discovered in missiles and drones recovered in Ukraine since Moscow invaded in 2022.

Following the invasion, the U.S. and over 30 other countries have implemented sanctions targeted at impeding Russia’s ability to carry out its war by restricting access to Western technology. However, American components are still being found in Russian weapons left behind on the Ukrainian battlefield. This has prompted the Commerce Department to take action against these companies, hoping to hinder Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.

Axelrod also mentioned that senior officials from the Commerce, State, and Treasury departments have been communicating directly with senior leaders in U.S. companies to explore further actions they can take to prevent their products from being used in Russia. The efforts to prevent the diversion of goods to Russia for use in the conflict continue to be a top priority for the U.S. government in an attempt to support Ukraine and mitigate Russia’s aggression.

The U.S government is taking measures against American companies that ship goods abroad out of concern that these items may be diverted for use in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Letters have been sent by the Commerce Department to at least 20 companies with this warning, marking the latest attempt by Washington