Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre has been closely monitoring company activity and the private sector response to the rapidly changing situation.

On 21 September 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced partial mobilisation in Russia. The accompanying legislation on mobilisation - known as Article 9 of Federal Law No. 31-FZ - mandates all organisations, including international companies, to conduct military registration of the staff if at least one of the employees is liable for military service. They must also assist with delivering the summons from the military to their employees, ensure the delivery of equipment to assembly points or military units, and provide buildings, communications, land plots, transport and other material means as well as information.

In light of this development, we invited 143 companies to respond to questions regarding actions they have taken or plan to take in response to the implications of the mobilisation law.

Companies that have left the Russian market were asked the following question:

• Does your company still have any contractual employment relationship in Russia? If so, how are you planning to mitigate the heightened risk of contributing or being directly linked to the armed conflict and exacerbating the situation?

The companies that suspended operations or continue them were asked:

1. What immediate action your company has taken or intends to take to evaluate and respond to the implications of the mobilisation decree?
2. If your company chooses to continue operating in Russia despite the declared partial mobilisation, how are you planning to mitigate the heightened risk of contributing or being directly linked to the armed conflict and exacerbating the situation?

UPDATED: 9:00 GMT 6 March 2023

We heard back from 34 companies, 24% of those approached. Thirty one companies provided responses. One company committed to respond later. One company declined to respond.