Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention has added Japan Tobacco International (JTI), a unit of Japan Tobacco, on its list of companies supporting war.
JTI, which has a share of about one-third of the Russian market, has suspended fresh investment and marketing activities in the country based on Western sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
But the Ukrainian government agency criticized the company for continuing its business activities in Russia and paying a large amount of tax to the aggressor nation that has helped prop up its economy.
A Japan Tobacco official said Saturday that the company is aware of the Ukrainian agency's decision.
The official, however, noted that Japan Tobacco is also doing business in Ukraine.
"We are providing aid and support to (Ukrainian) people in need and continuing to make contributions to the Ukrainian economy," the official said.