Engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. is halting business activities in Russia, as per a press release on Friday.
In the statement, Cummins said it would “suspend all commercial operations in Russia indefinitely as the attacks on Ukraine intensify and a peaceful resolution does not appear imminent. We are now taking steps to wind down operations expeditiously.”
It further noted: “We strongly condemn the actions of the Russian government, which is putting millions of innocent people at risk and turning millions of Ukrainian citizens into refugees. That concern also extends to our 700 employees and thousands of end-user customers in Russia and the impact on citizens who are not participants in this invasion.
Cummins has conducted business operations in Russia for a long time and creates products in Russia in an alliance with Russian manufacturer KAMAZ Inc. The joint venture was signed in 2006. However, both companies’ business relationship dates back to the 1980s.
“This decision is very difficult for our employees affected in Russia, our company, our communities, and our customers,” Cummins said, adding that it is “evaluating the best ways to support our employees during this difficult time in accordance with local laws and regulations.”
This is the latest move in a series of setbacks Cummins has made since Russia first invaded Ukraine on February 24. As of March 4, Cummins had suspended certain parts of its Russian operations, and in the middle of last week, the company had ended “most” of its operations in the said country.
Cummins has no employees in Ukraine. Still, the company announced that it is offering $250,000 in grants to support refugees‘ emergency needs. Cummins‘ employees are also volunteering. The company also stated that it has partnered with community groups, specifically those in Romania and Poland, and is collaborating with its grant-making partner GlobalGiving.
This story originally appeared on IBJ.