We, Ukrainians and Ukrainian allies of Microsoft, are requesting that you take decisive immediate action to support Ukraine. Military forces ordered by the government of Russian Federation have led an unprovoked attack on the people of Ukraine. This invasion is the largest military aggression on the European continent since WW2, and is causing the loss of countless lives.

Microsoft has already announced its support internally and made donations to a number of charitable organizations. However, by doing business with Russia’s criminal regime Microsoft is supporting the missiles that are targeting Ukrainian hospitals, kindergartens, residential buildings and ambulance convoys. By doing business with Russia Microsoft is supporting this unwarranted and unprovoked invasion that threatens the world peace. Our mission tells us we must “Empower everyone on the planet to achieve more”, however this just CAN’T be directed to those who support this war. How does our leadership feel knowing that people in Kremlin are using Microsoft software right now to issue criminal orders to invade a sovereign nation? Shoot missiles at cities and villages? Kill innocent people? And we, as Microsoft employees, must ask ourselves and our leadership what we actually can do in this terrifying situation.

Recognizing the responsibility that comes with their scale, Microsoft’s peers have already taken action ranging from discontinuing services, for example, IBM is revoking cloud services from Russian companies facing US sanctions, suspending disinformation outlets on Google, YouTube and Meta platforms, to extending services to Ukraine like Starlink, coordinating with Ukrainian government for humanitarian aid like US, Canadian and European cellular operators enabling free calls to Ukraine. Apple is stopping shipping any products to Russia.
 
In view of Microsoft’s historic position in favor of human rights, we implore Microsoft’s leadership to take the following actions: 
  ·  Condemn the Russian invasion: we ask Microsoft to publicly state support for Ukraine.
  ·  Discontinue services for Russian organizations under sanctions by the EU and the US: block access to technologies and services (Azure, Windows, Office, Bing, etc.) for governmental agencies of Russian Federation, financial institutions, media and private companies that sponsor war or share misinformation.
  ·  Provide on the ground support: leverage its European Fulfillment Network to provide donations of medical supplies and humanitarian aid through organizations that have already established the infrastructure to deliver those supplies in Ukraine (e.g. Razom for Ukraine, Hospitallers, Nova Ukraine).
  ·  Provide technical support: provide free and discounted Azure assistance for cyber security and IT infrastructure through the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. 

As Microsoft employees, we hope to see Microsoft lead the global response and publicly stand with us for Ukraine. We welcome the opportunity to engage with you on this pressing matter. Microsoft should ACT, Microsoft should join other companies who are stopping this blood business.