> The ban complies with the EU’s 12th sanctions package adopted in December, which ordered companies in and outside the bloc to stop exporting products and technology to Russia by March 20.
That would mean that either A) it's not what triggered this change or B) the kernel wasn't legally following compliance requirements for almost a year
But besides that, that sanction is between EU<>Russia, not sure if that would ultimately enforce the kernel to implement those compliance requirements, unless also agreed and followed by the US.
But this change here feels like there was pressure from the DoD or White House. A lot of sanctions seems to be introduced and enforced informally.