Microsoft stopped renewing licenses for Russian companies

In early August, Microsoft informed Russian companies that it would stop renewing licenses for Windows operating systems starting from September 30.

It was emphasized that the company could no longer accept payments to its local bank account as payment for its services in Russia.

As a result, Russian customers of Microsoft will not be able to renew subscriptions for corporate services like Microsoft 365.

Microsoft stated that licenses would not be renewed because they are "complying with Western sanctions against Russia." They also reminded that the sale of all their products and services in the country has been terminated.

However, Russia's Minister of Digital Development, Maxim Shadaev, stated that "everyone understood that this was coming." He added that Russian companies had one and a half years to prepare.

He also claimed that Russia has alternatives to Microsoft software. For instance, some companies have already switched to domestic operating systems based on Linux.

The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, commented on Microsoft's decision.

"Microsoft Corporation stopped renewing licenses for Russian companies as of September 30. This means that Russian customers of the corporation will not be able to renew existing subscriptions for corporate services like Microsoft 365," he wrote.

The Head of the Office of the President noted that the Yermak-MacFaul sanctions group had proposed such restrictions.

"Software in Russia should be like that of cave people. Each Russian should feel responsible for the war," he added.

Earlier, Microsoft promised to gradually reduce its business in Russia until "nothing remains of it."