Mike Wolanin | The Republic A banner of J. Irwin Miller, former president and chairman of Cummins, is visible in a gathering space in the basement of the newly remodeled Cummins Corporate Office building in Columbus, Ind., pictured Tuesday, July 23, 2019.
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Cummins, Inc. Board of Directors Thursday made the decision to suspend all commercial operations in Russia indefinitely as the attacks on Ukraine intensify and a peaceful resolution does not appear imminent.
The company said it is now taking steps to wind down operations expeditiously.
“Our primary concern has been and remains the safety and wellbeing of those whose lives have been affected by this alarming situation,” Cummins said in its statement. “We strongly condemn the actions of the Russian government, which is putting millions of innocent people at risk and turning millions of Ukrainian citizens into refugees. That concern also extends to our 700 employees and thousands of end-user customers in Russia and the impact on citizens who are not participants in this invasion.
The statement continued:
“This decision is very difficult for our employees affected in Russia, our company, our communities, and our customers. We have deep care and concern for our employees and are making every effort to minimize the impact on them. We are evaluating the best ways to support our employees during this difficult time in accordance with local laws and regulations.
We have quickly mobilized our employees and resources to aid communities in the region. To provide immediate assistance for short-term emergency refugee needs, Cummins is starting with $250,000 in fast-tracked grants. In addition, employees are volunteering themselves. We are actively working with community organizations, especially in Romania and Poland, to determine how we can assist as the refugees arrive in new communities.”
Cummins officials said its employees around the world are working with grant-making partner GlobalGiving, which has launched a Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund. All donations to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund will support humanitarian assistance in impacted communities in Ukraine and surrounding regions where Ukrainian refugees have fled.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
