The article analyses the social responsibility of small and medium-sized businesses to internal stakeholders (employees, managers) in the force majeure circumstances generated by the strengthening of Western sanctions that followed the start of Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. Based on sociological research data, it identifies new problems and difficulties that have arisen for businesses due to an increased sanction- related pressure; it examines the SSR of SMEs in traditional areas of responsibility, but in new extraordinary conditions, namely, in such areas as the preservation of the businesses, jobs and level of remuneration, and prevention of the emergence of acute labor conflicts. Considerable attention is paid to the analysis of new areas of SSB, such as the participation of entrepreneurs in partial mobilization and support for the families of SSB participants. The article provides data from official statistics, as well as sociological research by VCIOM, FOM, and a small survey of entrepreneurs carried out by the author in the capital region. The article concludes that the sanctions failed to bring down the SMB system and it is more or less successfully coping with the difficulties that arose, and is characterized by a socially responsible behavior towards internal stakeholders in the main and new areas of activities.
social responsibility of business; small and medium-sized businesses; internal stakeholders; sanctions-related pressure; business preservation; jobs; remuneration; social partnership; new areas of social security.