A growing number of Western defense companies have restricted access to their websites for users in Ukraine, citing compliance with international sanctions and regulatory requirements.
Among the firms that have implemented these measures are British Supacat, Spanish Navantia, General Dynamics European Land Systems, and American companies Insitu, HII, and Teledyne FLIR. Ukrainian users attempting to visit these websites are met with 403 access denied errors, indicating an outright ban.
Teledyne FLIR, a leading U.S. manufacturer of infrared imaging and surveillance technology, justified its decision by pointing to sanctions imposed on Russia. The company stated that due to parts of Ukraine being under Russian occupation, its system blocked access to the entire country to ensure compliance with export restrictions.
Teledyne FLIR suggested that Ukrainian users bypass the restriction by using VPN services, a workaround that has frustrated many in Ukraine’s defense and security sectors.
In contrast, major U.S. defense contractors such as Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, and BAE Systems continue to provide unrestricted access to Ukrainian users. These companies have not implemented similar blocks, allowing military officials, researchers, and analysts in Ukraine to access critical information about defense systems and technologies.
The information blackout comes at a time when Ukraine is engaged in a prolonged war with Russia, relying heavily on Western military assistance and intelligence-sharing.
While some companies argue that blocking Ukrainian access is an unintended consequence of broad compliance measures, critics see it as an overreach. The inconsistency in access policies among defense firms highlights the complexity of international regulations and the unintended effects they can have on U.S. allies actively engaged in war.