Every day the volume of sanctions against the Russian Federation increases and chains of contracts are frustrated. Many would like to be exempted from liability for failing to fulfil contracts with reference to sanctions, but there is uncertainty as to whether this is permissible under Russian law.

Changing existing agreements with reference to extraordinary circumstances, even in relations with domestic partners, will also be difficult. There is a lot of talk about force majeure, but it should be understood that under current Article 401 of the Civil Code “absence of goods needed for execution” is not a circumstance of force majeure, explains Partner Olesya Petrol.

Detailed overview here.