Ukraine crisis: Russian vodka boycott goes global to punish Putin for war

Vodka from Russia accounts for little more than 1% of the total value of imports of the spirit into the US

An international boycott of Russian vodka is building from the US to Australia as politicians and corporations signal their opposition to President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine by targeting one of his country’s most iconic products.

At least three U.S. governors ordered the removal of Russian-made or branded spirits from stores, while one of the largest alcohol retail chains in New Zealand pulled thousands of bottles of vodka including the Ivanov and Russian Standard brands -- and filled the empty shelves with Ukrainian flags. Boycotts are spreading to other goods in Russia’s European neighbors.

Two of Australia’s biggest liquor chains, Dan Murphy’s