STOCKHOLM -- The war in Ukraine and the sanctions by Western countries has led to a "dramatic reduction in exports of forest products from Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. The total exports from these three countries were valued collectively at $17 billion in 2021."

Oksana Donska, the CEO of the Furniture of Ukraine Business Expo and board member of the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers, remains in Ukraine even as Russian armed forces continue to shell cities and towns. Donska spoke by e-mail with WoodworkingNetwork.com from her suburb of Kyiv, near enough that she could hear the bombs fall, and know what type of rocket was in the air just by the sound. Q. How are things are going with you, family and colleagues? 

Russia enacted export bans on certain products such as wood and forestry products as a reaction to Western sanctions leveled against them for invading Ukraine.

In the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the National Association of Manufacturers Board of Directors unanimously voted to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and to stand with the people of Ukraine in their “fight to preserve freedom and independence.”

Hardware manufacturer, Doug Mockett & Co., declared, March 9, that it "stands with Ukraine" and urges others to help in the Ukrainian relief effort.  To aid in these humanitarian efforts, the company suggested contacting the following groups:

Because of the association of the forest sector in Russia and Belarus with armed invasion, no FSC-certified material or controlled wood from these countries will be permitted to be traded.