Shopify joins wave of companies suspending operations in Russia, Belarus

Shopify has announced it's temporarily suspending operations in Russia and Belarus amid the war in Ukraine, and has also stopped charging fees for itsUkrainian clients.

The e-commerce company founded in Ottawa joins a growing list of companieswho haveceased work in the two countries, citing Russia'sincreasingly violent invasion. Many large companies have faced social media pressureto cut off Russian operations.

"Like so many, we have been deeply unsettled by the unprovoked attacks and ongoing war in Ukraine," the company said in a news release Tuesday afternoon.

Shopify'splatform isused by vendors in 175 countries around the world.

The company also announced it willmatch employee donations to the shipping company Flexport, which Shopifyinvests in. Flexport is organizing flightsbringinghumanitarian aid to Ukraine, the news release said.

Shopify said it will continue to monitor events on the ground and follow sanctions as they are announced.