Disney Suspends All Business In Russia Following Ukrainian Invasion

Disney has suspended all its business operations in Russia, following the country’s invasion of Ukraine. 

The Walt Disney Company is the latest in a long line of companies which have halted all business in Russia, with Netflix and Burger King both announcing similar plans in recent days. 

In a statement, a spokesperson from Disney told the Daily Mail the company is pausing all of its business in Russia due to 'the unrelenting assault on Ukraine and the escalating humanitarian crisis’. 

The company had already put the blocks on all film releases in the country, but is now going further to stop all other business, including product licensing, Disney Cruise Line activities and National Geographic magazine. 

The spokesperson added: “Some of those business activities we can and will pause immediately. Others - such as linear channels and some content and product licensing - will take time given contractual complexities.”

Walt Disney Company went on to say that all of its staff in Russia are still employed.

The announcement makes Disney one of a growing number of companies that have suspended business in the country - it joins the likes of Nintendo, Sony, Nestle and PayPal. 

Social media platform TikTok has also announced it would halt the posting of all content from Russia in the wake of new 'fake news' legislation that could put people at risk.

"In light of Russia's new 'fake news' law, we have no choice but to suspend live streaming and new content to our video service while we review the safety implications of this law," the company said in a Twitter message.

While McDonald's has said it will be temporarily closing 850 of its restaurants in Russia, with CEO Chris Kempczinski citing the ‘unspeakable suffering to innocent people’ in Ukraine.

In an email that was shared on Twitter, he said: "The conflict in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Europe has caused unspeakable suffering to innocent people. As a System, we join the world in condemning aggression and violence and praying for peace. Our number one priority from the start of this crisis has been – and will remain – our people."

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information.