Is this really an ally? U.S. companies have become the largest taxpayers in Russia.

The United States has emerged not only as one of the largest violators of its own sanctions against Russia but also as the biggest foreign taxpayer on Russian territory. In 2023, American companies operating in Russia paid the Russian government $1.2 billion in taxes, and this situation appears set to continue.

This information is reported by Newsweek, citing data from B4Ukraine, the Kyiv School of Economics, and the Yale School of Management. It is noted that such tax payments make the U.S. the largest foreign taxpayer in Russia, which is quite shameful.

Moreover, American companies have been very slow to exit the Russian market since February 2022. According to the Yale School of Management, at least 123 major U.S. companies are still operating in Russia. Meanwhile, the Kyiv School of Economics estimates that the number is nearly three times higher—at least 328 U.S. companies.

Four companies have emerged as the leaders in tax payments in Russia. These are Philip Morris International (which paid $220 million in taxes to the Kremlin), PepsiCo ($135 million), Mars ($99 million), and Procter & Gamble ($67 million).

As previously reported, senior researcher at the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NACO) Victoria Vishnevskaya told "Telegraph" that between 60 and 80% of components in Russian drones and missiles are made in the U.S. Additionally, Russia has found another loophole that allows it to acquire American electronics for its military industry. Suppliers to the Russian military-industrial complex have managed to establish a scheme that enables them to purchase chips directly from the U.S..

It was reported that the U.S. attempted to clamp down on smuggling and halt the flow of missile components into Russia. In late August 2024, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced sanctions against 400 entities accused of supporting the war against Ukraine. The list included at least 12 Hong Kong companies. However, the U.S. government did not wish to cut out the root of the problem: ultimately, no accusations were directed at U.S. companies.