The Walt Disney Company Halts Business Dealings in Russia

As a result of the invasion of Ukraine, The Walt Disney Company has issued a statement regarding its business operations in Russia.

Disney is pausing the release of all theatrical films in Russia, and will be looking into the remainder of their business interactions in the country. As the statement mentions, some of the business operations will pause effective immediately, while others will take a bit of time to do so.

Reported last week, all Disney Cruise Line stops and excursions in Russia have been halted, and all National Geographic tours within the country have been paused as well.

The statement, in its entirety, is below:

“Last week, after Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, we announced that we were pausing the release of theatrical films in Russia and reviewing the rest of our businesses there.

Given the unrelenting assault on Ukraine and the escalating humanitarian crisis, we are taking steps to pause all other businesses in Russia. This includes content and product licensing, Disney Cruise Line activities, National Geographic magazine and tours, local content productions and linear channels.

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.

Even as we pause these businesses, we remain committed to our dedicated colleagues in Russia, who will remain employed. And we continue to work with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other much-needed assistance to refugees.”