Google pauses all ad sales in Russia in light of the extraordinary circumstances

Google has paused all ad sales in Russia in response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.

“In light of the extraordinary circumstances, we’re pausing Google ads in Russia,” a Google spokesperson told The Verge. “The situation is evolving quickly, and we will continue to share updates when appropriate.”

It’s difficult to say what financial losses the company will incur as a result, but the move shows how the online world has become a subsidiary battleground between Russia and the West following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The pause by Google follows similar blanket bans on ads in Russia enacted by Twitter and Snapchat. Google also previously blocked Russian state media like Russia Today from monetizing their websites and YouTube channels...

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