Linux kernel community removed Russian maintainers due to "various compliance requirements." The decision was made by Greg Kroah-Hartman, a senior Linux kernel leader. The affected individuals were important hardware Linux driver maintainers, including those from Acer and Cirrus Logic. While the reasons for the removal are unclear, Linux's founder Linus Torvalds clarified that it is not solely a US-driven move, citing international sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-remove-russian-maintainers-of-linux-kernel-heres-what-torvalds-says/