Bremach, the company that brings off-road vehicles from the Russian automaker UAZ in the U.S. market, announced it suspends operations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

More specifically, the official website of Bremach USA states: “For understandable reasons, all Bremach operations are suspended and vehicle deposit holders will be refunded”. This means that people who ordered a Bremach 4×4 SUV will get their $100 deposit back and see their pre-orders canceled until further notice. Obviously, following the sanctions from the U.S. and the EU that have effectively isolated Russia’s economy, it is not possible anymore to import vehicles or parts from this side of the world.

See Also: Lada Halts Production In Russia Due To Sanctions Over Ukraine Invasion

Even though Bremach has been around since the ’50s developing all-terrain trucks, ladder-frame chassis, and powertrains in Italy, the American branch was founded in 2010 in Nevada. Before importing UAZ vehicles, Bremach did some work on hybrid, electric, and fuel cell powertrains although this didn’t result in a production vehicle.

The 2022 Bremach 4×4 SUV (initially known as the Taos) which is a rebadged version of the UAZ Patriot “uniquely engineered and homologated for the American market”, was announced in December 2020, with the official presentation taking place in November 2021 at the Los Angeles Motor Show. It is fitted with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder petrol engine producing 150 hp (112 kW / 152 PS), mated to a GM 6L50 six-speed automatic transmission, a two-speed transfer case, and an electronic 4×4 system.

The SUV of Russian heritage was expected to reach dealerships this year with a starting price of $26,405, closely followed by a pickup variant that was going through the final stages of homologation. Both vehicles would be assembled at Bremach facilities in Southern California. We don’t know if the company will be able to recover from this situation, judging from the ongoing war in Ukraine that has sparked an anti-Russian movement among governments and people all over the world.