Samsung is selling its cutting edge Galaxy Fold5 and Flip5 smartphones in Russia, a reversal of the shipment ban it imposed after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Handset specialist publication GSMArena reports that both foldable handsets are due to go on sale shortly after Samsung promised to launch them within two weeks.
“The Fold5 is offered by local carrier mts for RUB 189,990, which is equal to US$2,062, while the Flip5 starts from RUB110,000, which translates to almost US$1,200, according to the current exchange rate,” says GSMArena. Both phones are bundled with premium wearables and offered old with next-day delivery or same-day store pickup.”
Samsung ceased the sales of its products in Russia when the country invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
Samsung and other big tech firms including Apple and Microsoft announced they would suspend sales in line with international trade sanctions. Samsung said it was suspending shipments of all goods “due to current geopolitical developments”.
.“We continue to actively monitor this complex situation to determine our next steps,” it said in a statement.
It announced a $US6 million donation to the humanitarian effort in Ukraine at the time.
This mattered to Ukraine with Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov writing to tech giants including Samsung urging them to cease doing business with Russia. Fedorov specifically asked Samsung to block access to Galaxy Pay, Samsung’s Galaxy Store and Samsung Shop.
Samsung also had to obey Korean trade sanctions which homed in on good used for military purposes, such as semi-conductors and components used in industry.
South Korea expanded its trade sanctions in April 2023, an action that drew “disappointment” from Russia’s foreign ministry, as reported by Russian agency TASS.
“Government (South Korean) authorization will now be needed for the export of 798 non-strategic goods that can be used for military purposes,” it reported. “These include semiconductors, as well as items for uses in the chemical, steelmaking and car industries and for quantum computers. The ministry plans to monitor the implementation of the decision so that goods from the expanded list do not get to Russia or Belarus via third countries.”
Heat exchangers and oil and gas refining equipment were on the list.
Samsung had been slowly considering a U-turn when it comes to consumer goods. There were whispers in October last year that the company was considering selling its cutting edge Fold4 and Flip4 models in Russia at that time.
It also seems its initial decision to cease shipments was made for practical reasons, not just humanitarian ones. “Samsung was forced to stop shipments to Russia due to various factors, including logistics issues and unstable exchange rates, like many other global companies,” a spokesman told Yonhap News Agency. It also reported that Samsung operates a TV factory in Kaluga, southwest of Moscow.
