TikTok said it had suspended live streaming and new content from its platform as it assesses tough new laws to crack down on “fake news” about Russia’s armed forces.
Netflix said it was pulling out in protest at the invasion.
Visa, Mastercard and PwC also joined the list of western firms cutting ties.
TikTok, which has around 36 million users in Russia, said its move was about ensuring the safety of its staff and users.
Since Friday, anyone who writes news deemed false about the military could face up to 15 years in jail.
Among other things, the Kremlin objects to the conflict being called a war, instead calling it a “special military operation”.
According to a report many outlets have already stopped reporting in Russia, saying they can no longer be independent.
In a series of Tweets, TikTok said: “In light of Russia’s new ‘fake news’ law, we have no choice but to suspend live-streaming and new content to our video service while we review the safety implications of this law.
It added: “We will continue to evaluate the evolving circumstances in Russia to determine when we might fully resume our services with safety as our top priority.”
Chinese-owned TikTok, which has one billion users worldwide, has been criticised for not speaking out against Russia invading Ukraine, unlike its peers Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, and Twitter.
But in a longer statement on its website on Sunday, it described the war in Ukraine as “devastating”, adding that it had “brought pain to our community and our people”.
Last week, Netflix temporary stopped all future projects in Russia as it assessed the impact of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
But on Sunday, a spokesperson said: “Given the circumstances on the ground, we have decided to suspend our service in Russia.”
The firm launched in Russia in 2016 and only has 1 million subscribers there – a fraction of the 220 million it has worldwide.
But according to Variety magazine, the streaming platform – which operates in a joint venture in the country with Russia’s National Media Group – had four Russian originals in the works.
That includes the crime thriller series Zato, which was shooting and has since been put on hold.
A host of companies have suspended their operations in Russia since it attacked its neighbour, including Apple, Jaguar Land Rover, H&M and Burberry. Many other firms are reviewing their positions, while some are looking to offload stakes in Russian ventures.
On Sunday, two of the Big Four accounting firms KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) said they would no longer have a member firm in Russia because of the invasion.
Visa, Mastercard and American Express also suspended operations in Russia, although the country’s banks played down the impact on consumers.
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