Disney 'pauses' all business in Russia over invasion of Ukraine
Walt Disney Co. has said it is taking steps to "pause" all business activities in Russia in protest over its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
As part of the move content and product licences will not be accessible in Russia, and other activities such as National Geographic magazine tours and local content productions will cease.
Disney said some of its business activities will be paused immediately while others will "take time" due to "contractual complexities".
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Disney has said it will pause all business activities in Russia - including the release of new movies. Valery Sharifulin/TASS
"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," a spokesperson for The Walt Disney Company said.
"Given the unrelenting assault on Ukraine and the escalating humanitarian crisis, we are taking steps to pause all other businesses in Russia."
Marvel's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" will not be shown in Russia. Courtesy of Marvel Studios
Despite the shutdown Disney said it would continue to support its staff who work in Russia.
"Even as we pause these businesses, we remain committed to our dedicated colleagues in Russia, who will remain employed," the spokesperson said.
"And we continue to work with our NGO partners to provide urgent aid and other much-needed assistance to refugees."
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Large queues formed outside Russian McDonald's stores following their announcement that they would cease trading in the country. CNN
Among Disney's latest theatrical releases are the Pixar film "Turning Red" and Marvel's "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness", both of which will not be shown in Russia.
Disney's exodus joins an extensive line of corporations who have pulled out of Russia in response to the nation's invasion of Ukraine.
Russians inside the country can no longer purchase an iPhone, eat at McDonalds, watch Russian state TV channels on Netflix, book an Airbnb, buy new PlayStation games or use their Mastercard or Visa-issued debit or credit cards,
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