Foreign Companies in Russia: What Has Been Happening Since the Start of the Special Operation
In a recent address at the Information Marathon, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for the Russian president, shared figures about foreign business activity in Russia. He stated that 120 of 1,400 foreign companies have chosen to depart, while the remaining firms have elected to stay on their current footing. The briefing was broadcast by the Russian Knowledge Association as part of its public information program.
Peskov emphasized the timeline by noting that at the outset of the special military operation there were 1,404 foreign enterprises operating in Russia. His latest tally shows that 120 companies have left the market, with the majority electing to remain. He described the continued presence of these firms as a stable choice rather than a withdrawal, highlighting that the decision to stay is tied to perceived advantages of continuing operations within the Russian market.
Officials also commented on how departures might be managed or concealed under a broader economic backdrop. The implication drawn is that some companies that exit could still interact with the market in ways that are not immediately visible, and that conditions for potential future reentry exist in certain circumstances. This framing suggests a nuanced approach to corporate strategy, where relocation or hiatus does not automatically equate to permanent withdrawal.
Industry observers have tracked the actions of foreign firms toward Russia since the start of the operation. A number of companies publicly announced suspensions or terminations, but subsequent market behavior reveals a more complex picture. The Kiev School of Economics has reported that 468 foreign enterprises declared plans to leave Russia; however, according to their data, only 211 of those firms actually exited the Russian market. This gap between stated intentions and real action underscores the challenges in interpreting corporate movements amid geopolitical shifts and sanctions. It also points to a broader trend of firms reassessing risk, supply chains, and market access in parallel with evolving policies and economic conditions, rather than making swift, permanent reversals.
Across these developments, analysts stress the importance of understanding the subtle dynamics at play. The choice to remain can reflect long-term strategic interests, including access to local talent, ongoing contractual obligations, or the perceived resilience of the Russian consumer market. Conversely, departures or pauses may be motivated by organized withdrawal plans, shifts in investment priorities, or responses to regulatory environments. The ongoing discourse suggests that corporate decisions are rarely simple binary choices, but rather a spectrum of actions that mix continuity with tight scheduling of future reevaluations. Observers encourage monitoring additional indicators, such as sector-specific trends, changes in foreign direct investment flows, and the evolution of compliance requirements, to gain a clearer picture of how foreign participation in the Russian economy will evolve in the months ahead.