MOSCOW, Russia: Some six months after it said it would halt sales and production following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, PepsiCo Inc has stopped manufacturing Pepsi, 7UP and Mountain Dew in Russia.

The announcement came after Reuters discovered cans and bottles of Pepsi printed with July and August production dates from factories within Russia.

Pepsi, a U.S. company, told Reuters it has stopped blending concentrates for PepsiCola, Mirinda, 7Up and Mountain Dew in Russia.

The ongoing production of its products, with some being dated up to 17th August, means the drinks are still widely available in Moscow, as well as in Vladivostok in the far east and Krasnoyarsk in Siberia.

Food and drinks are included in the sanctions imposed by Western countries aimed at isolating Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

However, the ongoing availability of Pepsi products in Russia highlights the complexity of withdrawing from one of the world's largest markets.

Russia was the New York-based company's third-largest market in 2021, after the U.S. and Mexico.

After Pepsi said it would suspend operations in March, Atlanta-based rival Coca-Cola's production in Russia also continued operations.

In March, Pepsi said it would continue to sell daily essentials, such as milk and other dairy offerings, baby formula and baby food, in Russia.

Pepsi products have been sold in Russia for more than 60 years, and its products were some of the few Western goods available in the former Soviet Union.