Tim Prepare dinner despatched out an electronic mail to staff this morning addressing the Russian invasion of Ukraine and explaining the actions Apple has taken in response to the occasions of the previous two weeks. The e-mail additionally tells staff that Apple will probably be matching donations they make to sure humanitarian aid funds two to at least one, and can accomplish that retroactively for donations made since February twenty fifth.
A replica of this electronic mail was obtained by The Verge, and you’ll learn it under in full (aside from an inner Apple electronic mail tackle being redacted):
I needed to take a second to deal with the continued disaster in Ukraine.
I do know I communicate for everybody at Apple in expressing our concern for all of these affected by the violence. With every new picture of households fleeing their properties and courageous residents preventing for his or her lives, we see how necessary it’s for folks around the globe to come back collectively to advance the reason for peace.
Apple is donating to humanitarian aid efforts and offering support for the unfolding refugee disaster. We’re additionally working with companions to evaluate what extra we are able to do. I do know that a lot of you’re keen to search out methods to help as effectively, and we wish to assist amplify the impression of your donations. Beginning in the present day, Apple will match your donations at a price of two:1 for eligible organizations, and we are going to make this retroactive for donations to these organizations since February 25. Please go to the Worker Giving Portal to be taught extra.
We’re working to help our groups in Ukraine and throughout the area. In Ukraine, we’ve got been involved with each worker, aiding them and their households in any means we are able to. For our Ukrainian crew members situated exterior of the nation that will want help, please contact [email redacted]. And for any worker who wants any help, please go to the Individuals web site for accessible assets.
As an organization, we’re taking extra actions as effectively. We now have paused all product gross sales in Russia. Final week, we stopped all exports into our gross sales channel within the nation. Apple Pay and different providers have been restricted. RT Information and Sputnik Information are now not accessible for obtain from the App Retailer exterior Russia. And we’ve got disabled each visitors and stay incidents in Apple Maps in Ukraine as a security and precautionary measure for Ukrainian residents.
We are going to proceed to judge the scenario and are in communication with related governments on the actions we’re taking.
This second requires unity, it requires braveness, and it reminds us that we mustn’t ever lose sight of the humanity all of us share. In these tough instances, I take consolation in figuring out that we’re united in our dedication to one another, to our customers, and to being a pressure for good on the earth.
As Prepare dinner highlights in his electronic mail (and as Apple has talked about in public statements), Apple has taken a wide range of actions within the area. On Tuesday it introduced that it’s halting the sale of its merchandise in Russia. It’s additionally restricted Apple Maps knowledge sharing in Ukraine and Apple Pay use in Russia.
Prepare dinner additionally mentions that Apple has been involved with “each worker” primarily based in Ukraine, and is working to assist them and their households. Internally, some staff have mentioned getting their households out of Ukraine.
