Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many international companies have stopped working in the aggressor's territory. Find out more about which brands continue to sponsor the russian federation

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After more than a year of russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, some well-known brands continue to operate in the russian market, despite numerous calls to stop working in a country that brings aggression and death. Below, we describe which companies sponsor russian terrorism.

According to relatively recent estimates, only 9% of nearly 1,500 global companies have left the russian market. Among the Western companies that have remained in russia, the largest share is made up of German (19.5%) and American (12.4%) companies, and among the Eastern companies - Japanese (7%).

Analysts estimate that the total annual revenue of companies that continue to operate in russia is almost $290 billion.

Which companies bring money to moscow and thus sponsor the war?

PepsiCo (USA)

This company owns many well-known brands, including Pepsi, 7UP, Mirinda, Sadochok, Sandora, Slovyanochka, Chudo, Lays, KhrusTeam, Doritos, Cheetos, Agusha, Evervess, Aqua Minerale, and Marijka.

The American company PepsiCo started its operations in russia and the USSR a long time ago. In 1974, it opened a plant for the production of carbonated beverages in Novorossiysk and still continues to operate in the territory of the aggressor.

According to some reports, in 2022, PepsiCo paid $810 million to the russian budget.

In addition, the company cynically uses the original Ukrainian brands Sadochok and Sandora to make money in russia.

Bonduelle (France)

The French company specializing in the production of canned vegetables not only continues to operate in russia, but also, according to unofficial data, helps the russian army.

For example, on New Year's Eve, the Yartsevo.LIVE group on the FSB social network vk.com posted a message that Bonduelle had congratulated the members of the so-called "SVO" on New Year's Eve by sending 10,000 greeting food baskets with a postcard: "Come back with victory". The company itself said that supporting the defenders is an integral part of its social responsibility.

This information was denied by the French office. However, there is another fact that may indicate that the company is closely connected with russia: according to Russian Forbes, the director of Bonduelle's representative office in russia, Ekaterina Eliseeva, studied at the FSB Academy as a translator.

It is worth noting that Bonduelle has no plans to leave the russian market and continues to pay taxes, fees and other contributions to the russian budget, thereby financing the war.

Auchan Company (France)

Auchan is no different from the aforementioned brands. During the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by russian troops in 2022, the company refused to stop operating in the russian market and joined the boycott of russia.

In addition, since the beginning of the war, the russian division of the French Auchan has been paying taxes to the budget of the terrorist country, supplying goods to the russian military in the occupied Ukrainian territories under the guise of humanitarian aid to civilians, and helping military recruitment offices enlist conscripts.

It is known that in 2021, the revenue of the russian division of Auchan amounted to 3.2 billion euros, which is approximately 10% of the total revenue of Auchan Retail.

Metro Company (Germany)

Another company that is not ashamed of its presence in russia and continues to sponsor the killing of civilians in Ukraine.

The company is also closely connected with the russian "top". For example, in 2019, METRO announced that it would focus on a franchise project of a chain of neighborhood grocery stores, Fasol, instead of opening large hypermarkets, and began developing it in a financial partnership with Sberbank of russia. The program is still in effect.

At the end of the 2021/2022 financial year, the company's sales in russia increased by 22.3% year-on-year to 2.9 billion euros. While all civilized businesses refused to cooperate with Mir cards issued by the sanctioned Sberbank, the Turkish METRO chain continued to accept these cards without any problems.

The German company Metro AG intends to continue operating in russia, CEO Steffen Groebel said in February 2023.

Raiffeisen Bank (Austria)

Many of us know the brand of this bank well, as it has long been one of the most popular banks in Ukraine.

But here's what you need to know about it:

Fictitious enterprises in Cyprus, which are part of the sphere of influence of russian oligarchs Arkady and Boris Rotenberg, who are close to the Kremlin, have long been serviced by the Austrian banking group Raiffeisen Bank International.

Also, the russian branch of Raiffeisen Bank International not only continues to operate in this country and sponsor terrorism, but also offers loan repayment holidays to russians fighting in Ukraine. 

In addition, on its website, the russian Raiffeisenbank recognizes the LPR and DPR terrorist organizations and calls the war in Ukraine a "special operation." In 2022, the bank paid 4.8 times more to the russian budget than in the entire pre-war year.

Yves Rocher (France)

Yves Rocher is one of the most popular French cosmetics brands in the middle price segment. The brand is in great demand all over the world.

However, the company refused to boycott russia and cease its operations there during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by russian troops.

Groupe Rocher's annual turnover is about 3 billion euros. In 2022, Yves Rocher East paid taxes to the russian budget in the amount of about $6 million.

Thus, Yves Rocher continues to sponsor the military aggression of russia, which, moreover, has been recognized by the European Parliament as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Leroy Merlin (France)

French company, one of the largest European DIY retailers. Founded in 1923, it is part of the Adeo group, which is owned by the Moulin Family Association. 

The company entered the russian market as a subsidiary of Leroy Merlin Vostok in 2004, owns the largest network of DIY stores and is a leader in terms of revenue per square meter of retail space.

Leroy Merlin Vostok is a backbone enterprise of the russian federation, which provides a high revenue part of the russian budget and a significant source of income for the russian government, thus supporting the actions of the putin government.

The company's revenue in 2021 in russia amounted to almost $6 billion.

In March, Leroy Merlin announced that it had no plans to reduce its operations in russia, where it has 143 stores. Later, they disconnected their Ukrainian office from corporate communications and announced that they would increase supplies to russia.

The above companies need to be known because their management cynically supports russian aggression against Ukraine. Their money is in the blood of civilians and children. They are responsible for thousands of innocent lives and the ruins sown throughout our country.