Westbrook-based Idexx said Wednesday that it has “significantly scaled back” its operations in Russia because of that country’s war in Ukraine.

A statement issued by the company said the war is “deeply concerning to the Idexx community and we strongly condemn the invasion and violence there.”

The company said that it has stopped shipment and sales of veterinary diagnostic equipment in Russia, although it also said it was supporting “employees and veterinary customers that already use Idexx products.” The company did not respond to questions about what kind of support it was providing to its Russian workers and veterinary customers and whether it was continuing to sell products to its existing customers in the country.

As recently as last week, Idexx declined to provide specifics to the Press Herald on how or if it had changed its operations in Russia in the wake of that country’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Hundreds of U.S. and global companies have pulled out of Russia or severed business ties to protest the invasion.

Energy giants Exxon, BP, and Shell have broken out of multibillion dollar investments in Russian drilling sites. McDonalds, Nike and Adidas have shuttered their Russian stores. Apple and Microsoft have stopped selling or updating their software in Russia, while Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Western Union have cut the country off from their services. Food and consumer goods behemoths Unilever and Nestle have stopped all trade, while artists from Green Day to the Metropolitan Opera have canceled concerts. Global banks, accounting firms, airlines and carmakers also have severed ties.

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Wex, another Maine company with significant ties to a Russian business, announced Friday that it was severing its relationship with Lukoil, a Russian oil company.

Idexx had apparently kept its Moscow office open since the war began and the company did not say whether its decision to cut back on operations included closing that office.

According to a job posting on the company website last month, the office had 18 employees working in sales, technical support, customer service and installation services to Russian customers.

Idexx had been selling diagnostic equipment to veterinary practices for use on dogs, cats and other pets, and also sold water testing services in Russia.

The company said it would work through its foundation and other organizations to provide support to Ukrainian refugees and their pets.

Idexx said Wednesday that it is suspending its promotional, marketing and hiring activities, new business development and related investments. The company said it does not manufacture any of its products in Russia.

Idexx did not respond to questions seeking specifics about how it is scaling back its operations and whether the suspension of sales only applied to new customers or if the company was ceasing all sales in Russia.

Idexx generated more than $3.2 billion in revenue last year and company officials have said the strongest growth has occurred in what it calls its companion pet care group, which sells equipment and services to veterinary practices that provide care for pets.


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