Stop Doing
Business with Russia
Russia initiated aggression against Ukraine in 2014. On February 24, 2022, it started a full-scale military invasion to the Ukrainian territory. This brutal war and military crimes of Russian troops caused a humanitarian crisis in Ukraine with thousands civilians killed and millions becoming refuges. As a reaction to this act of aggression, many international companies decided to leave the Russian market, while some others continue doing business there as usual. We track such decisions of companies and urge them to stop funding the war.
Hold off investments: company postponing future planned investment/development/marketing while continuing substantive business
Pausing InvestmentsReducing Activities: company scaling back some business operations while continuing others
Scaling BackPause operations: company temporarily curtailing operations while keeping return options open
SuspensionClean Break: the company completely halting Russian engagements or exiting Russia
WithdrawalExit Completed: company sold its business/assets or its part of the business to a local partner and leaved the market or liquidated local entity(ies)
Exit Completed
The company promised to stop any new spending not related to the supply of the essential and life-changing medicines and vaccines in Russia, as well as in Belarus. Increased revenue, profit and assets in Russia in 2022 vs 2021. Customs data shows that the latest deliveries were in 2023. Sanofi experiencing serious supply problems from its Russian plant to EU market.
The company is temporarily closing its stores in Russia and suspending investments in the country. There are no statements about its Russian plant. In Russia, the Group has temporarily closed all its own stores and e-commerce sites and suspended all industrial and media investments. In accordance with European and American sanctions, L'Oreal promised to suspend the sales of all products except essential daily products. The share in sales through own websites is minimal. After the suspension, L'Oreal increased cooperation with other sites, including sanctioned ones. The company officially works in Crimea. Advertising expenses were not stopped - all investments were suspended for only 2-3 months. Now everything has been restored and even increased. The delivery of goods through Turkey and Kazakhstan was arranged. L'Oréal announced on November 26, 2023 that its factory in Kaluga, central Russia, within the group, is maintaining its operations in Russia to avoid a takeover by local authorities. L'Oreal rented a new office in the business center "AFI Gallery" in the center of Moscow.
Received revenues in Russia in 2021-2023.
No official statement
The company decided to continue doing business in Russia, citing the lack of bans from France and the EU. The Bonduelle company, which continues to work in the Russian Federation, supported the Russian military. Scaled back operation in Russia. Manufacturer of canned and frozen vegetables Bonduelle registers a trademark with the name in Cyrillic at Rospatent. The company said that products with the new label will appear “in the near future.”
Still operating in Russia. Lactalis and Savencia maintain their positions in Russia, although they are attracting the attention of local players looking to capitalize on their presence in the market. The Lactalis company, which has been operating in Russia since 2003 and has four production facilities, has attracted the interest of Sergey Bachin, a well-known Russian businessman who heads the Agranta group of companies. Despite this interest, both Lactalis and Savencia have yet to show any intention to abandon their Russian operations, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the market amid current events. The company's four subsidiaries, producing dairy products under the President, Galbani, Parmalat, and Bely Gorod brands, received a total of 43 billion rubles in revenue in 2023, and profits exceeded 3 billion rubles.
Continues flows to Russian and Ukrainian producers but suspends its project to build a seed factory in Russia. The company also produces sunflower and corn seeds that are critically important for the Russian market. Its revenue in 2023 was 14.4 billion rubles, and its profit was 1.6 billion. The growth compared to 2022 is 2 and 4 times, respectively. This is a colossal pace.
Lesaffre continues its activities. On April 28, 2022, a webinar on how to bake bread will take place in Moscow.
Received revenues in Russia in 2022-2024. Revenues in foreign currency fell slightly in 2023 compared to 2022, mainly due to devaluation, but even increased in rubles. The owners have not changed as of the end of June 2024. Revenue increased in 2024 vs 2023 by more than +30%.
Received revenues in Russia in 2021-2024, there is no any official announcement. Revenue increased in 2024 vs 2023 by more than +30%.
Still operates in Russia. Lactalis and Savencia maintain their positions in Russia, although they are attracting the attention of local players looking to capitalize on their presence in the market. The Lactalis company, which has been operating in Russia since 2003 and has four production facilities, has attracted the interest of Sergey Bachin, a well-known Russian businessman who heads the Agranta group of companies. Despite this interest, both Lactalis and Savencia have yet to show any intention to abandon their Russian operations, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the market amid current events.
Received revenues in Russia in 2021, there is no any official announcement
Promised to suspend new investments/development but continued operations. Scandal as Yves Rocher accused of promoting ethnic superiority of russian women. Yves Rocher has been placed on the sponsors of war list by National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP).
Still operating in Russia with increasing sales and profit volumes in 2022 vs 2021.
No official statement
Continue doing business as usual.
Global textile service company called Elis, seems to be actively operating in the Russian market, but its information is missing from the website. As stated in their recent interim financial statement, Russia is one of their regions.
Continue doing business as usual, increased revenue in 2022 vs 2021. Revenue increased in 2024 vs 2023 by more than +50%.
Continue doing business as usual.
Still operating and actively hiring in Russia
Still selling online in Russia
No official statement
Continue doing business as usual.
Continue to practice in Russia. In 2023, they almost doubled their profits to 820 million rubles.
Received revenues in Russia in 2021-2024, there is no any official announcement. Revenue increased in 2024 vs 2023 by more than +30%.
Received revenues in Russia in 2021, there is no any official announcement
Received revenues in Russia in 2021, there is no any official announcement
Received revenues in Russia in 2021, there is no any official announcement
No official statement
Received revenues in Russia in 2022-2024. Revenue increased in 2024 vs 2023 by more than +100%.
Leroy Merlin will continue to work in the Russian Federation and is ready to expand supplies and range (112 stores in Russia). Leroy Merlin's parent company, Adeo, said it was "transferring control" of Leroy Merlin to local management in Russia, where it is among the biggest foreign employers. 12.2023: The entry about the founder of JSC "BRICOLAGE INVESTISSMAN FRANCE" was removed from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities. "LIMITED PARTNERSHIP SENARY HOLDING LP becomes the new founder of the organization | 19.12.2023: The status of a legal entity is changed to The legal entity is in the process of reorganization in the form of the merger of other legal entities. In the course of a detailed investigation, it turned out that the company signed a technical agreement on the alleged sale of the main business in Russia (SCENARI HOLDING LP from the UAE), as the CEO (Defassier Laurent, Louis, Claude) stayed the same since 2019, the company signs new contracts with the group and authorities of the Russian Federation (including the Ministry of Internal Affairs), trademarks are extended in Rospatent until 2031. In addition, as the L'Express investigation showed, SCENARI HOLDING LP has the same General Director as in Russia - Laurent Defassier, so the company used a tax optimization scheme, also called layering. Also, most of the imports in 2023 by Leroy Merlin Vostok in Russia was received from ADEO.
French designer, with products being sold in more than 15 locations throughout Russia.
Journalistic investigation proves French retailer supports Russian war effort.
Stop underwriting new insurance & stop renewals. French insurer AXA supports the main importer of Russian gas into Europe. Despite the war in Ukraine, French giant AXA is still providing insurance cover to Belgium’s Fluxys, which imports into France and Belgium gas held by oligarchs accused of funding Russia’s war effort, according to documents obtained by Disclose and NGO Reclaim Finance.
Since February 24, the company has not commented on the exit from the russian market and continues to sponsor the war in Ukraine.
Sales office in St. Petersburg, 10th largest exporter of Chocolate to Russia, direct shipments continue.
The winery, which is under Pitt's control by a French court decision, continues to sell its wines in Russia. The Russian distributor of Miraval is AST-International Environment, which was previously part of Telman Ismailov's business empire. After the closure of the Cherkizovsky market, Ismailov lost most of his assets, but retained ties to the alcohol business.
Suspended Moscow office. French EDF purchased 153 tons of enriched uranium from Russia for its nuclear power plants in 2022.
The French nuclear conglomerate Framatome has so far refused to end its cooperation with Rosatom. Paris approves the building of Russian-led nuclear reactors in Hungary. The French government has approved Framatome's participation in the construction of two new reactors at the Paks power plant, arguing that the nuclear industry is not affected by international sanctions against Russia. French nuclear company Framatome has signed a contract with Rosatom for the joint production of nuclear fuel for water-water power reactors (WWER or VVER).
Promised to suspend new investments and "sharply" reduce activities in Russia. But the company still hasn't left the market and did not reduced its activities. Actively hires employees for positions, including head office. It promises a business trip to Europe, the possibility of relocation in the future.
The International Red Cross Movement has decided not to suspend membership of the Russian Red Cross despite potential violations of neutrality rules revealed by the investigation. An investigation published last month by a group of news outlets, including the Guardian, was based in part on a series of leaked Kremlin documents that revealed plans to fund Red Cross branches in the occupied territory of Ukraine. It also became known that heads of regional Red Cross branches spoke of the need for war against Ukrainian Nazis", and uniformed Red Cross workers often visited military schools for children. At the beginning of this year, the Russian Red Cross signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Artek youth camp in the annexed Crimea, where some of the children deported from Ukraine were sent. The head of "Artek" Kostyantyn Fedorenko came under US and EU sanctions.
Statement condemning Russian invasion of Ukraine (No Russian members expelled)
The French company Marchante supplied the Russian arms company Kurganpribor with various technical products during the war (including fuses for Grad and Smerch MLRS systems). Marchante was not deterred by the fact that Kurganpribor was an official partner of the Kalashnikov Corporation, and that the owner of the Russian company was Sergey Muratov, a senator in the Federation Council Russia’s upper house of parliament. Kurganpribor was blacklisted by the EU only in December – Muratov, however, has been under personal sanctions since last March. This did not interrupt his business relationship with Marchante.
Amtek is a distributor for Motul east of the Moscow region. They list an extensive network of retail outlets selling Motul products and also offer businesses the chance to sell Motul products on their website.
Very important in creating audience and sales for government owned Gazprom-media. The French broadcasting group NRJ has launched a radio station in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. Alongside pop music, the station airs messages urging listeners to join the ranks of the Russian military and take part in Putin’s “special military operation.” NRJ has not been sanctioned yet, and it continues to broadcast freely across the rest of Ukraine.
The head of a sensitive company is accused of illegally transferring French know-how to the Chinese and Russians. Between diverted military chips, seized millions of euros and the return of the Russian state, justice is investigating a rare case of foreign intervention and counter-proliferation.
The leader among French suppliers is Optaperiph; it supplied 6 million euros worth of thermal insulation products, valves and other equipment to Russia.
The company has restaurants in Russia.
The Pierre Cardin brand is returning to the Russian market with a new Woman line.
Affiliates still operating in Russia
JSC Information Satellite Systems (ISS) has only been sanctioned by the US, meaning it can freely import switches from the EU that are later used in the microchips of the rockets' onboard control systems. The switches are supplied by French company Radiall S.A.
Worldline said in a statement: “In line with the recommendations of the European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) relayed by the French regulator Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), the Group confirms that its business related to Russia is limited, representing only c. 1.5% of its 2021 estimated proforma annual Worldline Group’s revenue on continued operations, mainly from its online acceptance business, operated from outside Russia and allowing domestic consumers to transact online with non-Russian international Merchants.”
The Group’s long-term contracts with Gazprom in 2021 represented approximately 20% of ENGIE’s overall gas sales and consumption worldwide. Should European sanctions affect Russian supplies – ENGIE would comply with such decision at all levels. At the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2022, Engie initiated arbitration proceedings against Gazprom Export LLC, seeking, in particular: recognition of Gazprom Export LLC's failure to fulfill its gas supply obligations under long-term gas supply contracts and payment of penalties, and as well as compensation for damages caused as a result of such non-performance.
Suspending new investments but still operating in Russia.
Boiron frozes investments, stopped advertising campaigns, canceled new product launches and stopped its clinical trial activities in Russia.
The company stops investments in the country, canceling its plans to support the growth of that market. All money flows between its HQ and its Russian subsidiary are interrupted. BlaBlaCar will maintain the current service, but isolate its Russian activity from the rest of the company, and stop all development plans.
According to press, the company suspends new investments/development in Russia. The chief executive of Accor, the French owner of the Orient Express and Novotel hotels, has claimed pulling out of Russia is “not an option” unless he is forced to by more stringent sanctions.
To indefinitely suspend new investments in Russia in response to the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine,
On March 11, 2022 Leroy Merlin announced that it does not plan to reduce its operations in Russia, where it operates 143 stores. On March 17, 2022 they disconnected the Ukrainian office from corporate communications and announced that they would increase deliveries to the Russian Federation. Stopped new investments, imports, and financing in Russia. But the latest video investigation confirms that a French company is supporting Russia's war effort in Ukraine. On March 24, 2023 ADEO announces its intention to transfer control of Leroy Merlin Russia to the local management. The company Scenari Holding, registered in the United Arab Emirates, became the main owner of "Leroy Merlin Vostok", the Russian structure of the chain of stores, according to the data of the EGRUL. 12.2023: The record about the founder of JSC "BRICOLAGE INVESTISSMAN FRANCE" has been deleted from EGRUL. SCENARI HOLDING LP (UAE) becomes the new founder of the organization. 19.12.2023: The status of a legal entity is changed to "The legal entity is in the process of reorganization in the form of joining it with other legal entities." In the course of a detailed investigation, it turned out that the company signed a technical agreement on the alleged sale of the main business in Russia (SCENARI HOLDING LP from the UAE), but the CEO (Defassier Laurent, Louis, Claude) stayed the same since 2019, the company signs new contracts with the group and authorities of the Russian Federation (including the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Internal Affairs), trademarks are extended in Rospatent until 2031. In addition, as the L'Express investigation showed, SCENARI HOLDING LP has the same General Director as in Russia - Laurent Defassier, so the company used a tax optimization scheme, also called layering. Also, most of the imports in 2023 by Leroy Merlin Vostok in Russia was received from ADEO. The French chain of DIY stores Leroy Merlin made a fifth of its sales and a quarter of its profits in Russia last year, according to financial data from its parent company Adeo seen by AFP on Monday, August 12, 2024. In its 2023 consolidated accounts filed with the Lille business court, Adeo said the transfer of control over operational activities was completed fully only at the end of December 2023. However, it said Adeo remains a "passive investor", and that conditions had not been met for it to deconsolidate the operations from its 2023 accounts, including retaining share capital as of the end of the year.
Still operating in Russia due to "unimaginable leaving from a human point of view" working for the benefit of the civilian population. The latest video investigation confirms that a French company is supporting Russia's war effort in Ukraine. The National Agency for Prevention of Corruption included the French corporation "Auchan" in the list of international war sponsors. "Auchan Retail Russia continues to work on the Russian market and does not plan to change either its strategy or its work organization. Auchan in Russia works autonomously, without investments from the parent company. There are no plans to open new stores. At the same time, all existing stores continue their work and there are no plans to close them," the retailer noted. Ceetrus, owned by the Auchan group, may sell its assets in Russia. The Ceetrus group, which owns and operates almost 300 shopping centers in Europe, is considering the possibility of selling its assets in Russia. Retailer Auchan refutes rumors about leaving the Russian market, the company continues its work in Russia and plans development in the country, the retailer said in a statement. Auchan made the corresponding statement against the backdrop of recent news about transactions in the real estate market. Earlier it became known that the French company Ceetrus, part of the Auchan Holding group, closed a deal to sell Russian assets. According to the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, from April 12, 2024, the Trade Galleries company became the new owner. “The change of founders, as well as any other structural or organizational changes occurring in third-party companies, do not in any way affect the activities of Auchan in Russia,” the release adds. The retailer also reminds that since 2023, Auchan Retail Russia has been operating in the Russian market independently from the parent company. Auchan, one of the few French chains still operating in the Russian Federation, found a local buyer to exit Russia and entered the final stage of negotiations. According to La Lettre, the Mulliez chain is in final negotiations with a local buyer for the sale of its Russian branch. The name of the buyer has not yet been disclosed, but the signing of the agreement may take place in the coming weeks. The company has not yet confirmed or denied this information. 29.10.2024: Auchan filed an application to register a new trademark. The Russian subsidiary of French supermarket chain Auchan quashed rumours of an impending sale, saying it continued to operate for the benefit of the local population. Although operation of the chain's 230 stores in Russia was transferred to local management in 2023, Auchan is one of the few French firms to remain in the country. "Rumours of a sale of Auchan Russia and its leaving the Russian market have recently multiplied and we have repeatedly denied them," the subsidiary said in a statement sent to AFP. "Our response is always the same: we don't comment on market rumours and we are continuing to work for the good of the country's population." French business journal La Lettre reported on Monday that Auchan had rejected an offer. The journal had reported in late October that negotiations were underway with a local buyer for the Russian stores, which employ some 30,000 people. Many Western companies have quit the Russian market since Moscow launched in February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but some have found it difficult to sell their operations. The continued operation of Auchan and hardware chain Leroy Merlin, both of which are owned by France's Mulliez family, has drawn the ire of many Ukrainians, including President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The company has stopped exports to customers in Russia and Belarus and imports from these two countries. All investment projects have been cancelled. Local activities are now operating at a minimum and in autonomous mode to maintain the employment of employees.
Continues serving patients. March 29, 2022 "In line with our relentless commitment to serving patients, we will continue to tackle their healthcare needs regardless of their race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, country of origin, language, or religion. We support global sanctions, and we will take all precautionary measures to comply with them. We have suspended several promotional activities in Russia, including advertising and participation to non-scientific congresses. Additionally, we will not initiate any new clinical trials." Revenue decreased in 2024 vs 2023 by more than -10%.
The company applies French and international economic sanctions. The company decided to put on hold all of its foreign investments and its major development projects in the country. Intention to withdraw from Russia - signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the local management team with the objective to transfer its activities in Russia in the framework of an Management Buy Out. In September 2022, Air Liquide announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding to sell its Russian business to a local management team. However, the deal never received approval from the Russian government, leaving the company in limbo.
Bureau Veritas has downsized its business in Russia in the sectors where the company was previously operating i.e. Marine, Aeronautics and Commodities.
Still selling products to Russia. Revenue decreased in 2024 vs 2023 by more than -20%.
Continues business in Russia. In 10 months of 2023, the French Kuhn SAS supplied Russia with seed drills worth $5 million (in the top ten importers). There were also deliveries of cultivators in the amount of $887,000. Shipments were made from France to the Kun Vostok representative office in the Voronezh region. Revenue decreased in 2024 vs 2023 by more than -20%.
Call centre group Teleperformance says it has 'curtailed' Russian operations. But Russian website is operational as of Feb 23, 2023 with a slogan "Welcome to Russia". Not clear what "curtailing" operations means, other than complying with sanctions. Revenue decreased in 2024 vs 2023 by more than -10%.
Continued relations with Russia. Among the "rich" French in Russia, it is worth mentioning the sugar giant Sucden. It has more than 250 thousand hectares of arable land in Russia. And in addition to sugar, it produces wheat, barley, sunflower, peas and corn. According to the results of last year, its net profit increased almost 2.7 times to 3.4 billion rubles. Revenue also increased many times - to 13.6 billion rubles. Revenue significantly (by more than -70%) decreased in 2024 vs 2023.
Still operating in Russia. “We are providing absolutely no new funding for our operations in Russia, and have stopped all new investment and all financial flows between the group and our Russian subsidiary.
Still selling to Russia. Revenue decreased in 2024 vs 2023 by more than -20%.
The French regulator has said Eutelsat must cut ties with NTV Mir. It is claimed Russia was Eutelsat's second biggest client last year. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has asked France’s broadcasting regulator, ARCOM, to order French TV satellite operator Eutelsat to stop carrying three Russian TV channels that are spearheads of the Kremlin’s war propaganda. French campaigners and Ukrainian activists have demanded Eutelsat, a Paris-listed satellite business in which the UK holds a 10pc stake, immediately halt transmissions of dozens of Russian channels. Revenue decreased in 2024 vs 2023 by more than -20%.
EssilorLuxottica restricted operations in Russia, continues to provide essential medical vision care services.
That momentary suspension has now been made ultimate. Because the conflict grinds on and the West makes an attempt to additional isolate Russia, Josef Aschbacher, ESA’s director common, introduced on Tuesday that ties on the rover mission had been reduce for good. Refused to collaborate with Roskosmos on the ExoMars mission
The FATF Plenary on February 24, 2023 has suspended the membership of the Russian Federation. The Ministry of Finance of Ukraine expresses concern over reports of Russia's attempts to blackmail member countries of the International Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on the eve of the FATF plenary meeting in Paris, which will take place on June 19-23. Russia is trying to exert political pressure on its commercial partners to avoid being blacklisted. In particular, Russia demands to oppose any applications of Ukraine or FATF decisions regarding its inclusion in black or gray lists. The International Anti-Money Laundering Group (FATF) did not include Russia in the "black list". The Ministry of Finance and the State Financial Monitoring Service have once again called on the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering (FATF) to include Russia in the "blacklist" during the plenary sessions in Paris from October 23 to 27, 2023. On October 22, 2024 the International Anti-Money Laundering Group (FATF) once again failed to include Russia in the "black" list.
Suspend services in Russia & reduce shipments to and from Russia significantly
The Governor of Sevastopol canceled the state purchase of Citroen cars for officials. French carmaker PSA Peugeot Citroen has decided to build a 200 million euro ($255 million) assembly plant in Russia because of booming demand for foreign cars.
PowerJet, which is registered in France, announced the termination of the contract after the entry into force of EU and US sanctions against Russia, The company stopped supplying spare parts for SaM146, maintenance and repair of engines. In February 2022, the French side stopped the supply of spare parts, technical support and repair of engines, as well as obligations as an engine developer.
LVMH temporarily closes its 124 stores in Russia. Suspend all operations in Russia. LVMH said in January 2025 that it was “impossible” to control the final destination of products sold by third-party distributors after a report said the French luxury group’s champagne reached Russia even after it had ceased business there.
Manitou Group suspended its shipments of machines to Russia and Belarus from the first days of the conflict (even though the EU sanctions at the time did not prohibit Manitou machines from being exported to Russia).
French luxury group LVMH "temporarily" closed its 124 stores in Russia.
Pause investments & prohibit new subscriptions
Suspend all services in Russia. CAIS agreed to remit $720,258 to settle its potential civil liability for apparent violations of sanctions against Cuba, Ukraine-related, Iran, Sudan, and Syria. The bank in Russia significantly reduced the volume of assets and net profit in 2022, compared to 2021.
Criteo completed $250M deal for ad-tech firm Iponweb. The initial agreement to buy the company was made before Russia invaded Ukraine in late February 2022. Iponweb, while founded in the United Kingdom by Russian-born Boris Mouzykantskii, had the majority of its engineering team based in Russia. For IPONWEB, its commercial and revenue activities are primarily in Western Europe and the United States, with no revenue customers in Russia, while its R&D team is primarily based in Moscow with a smaller team based in Berlin. Discontinued operations.
Suspended new business in Russia and Belarus
Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) was stopping its activities in Russia after analysing the latest European sanction packages which include a ban on engineering services with Russian firms.
The French company Gregoire Besson supplied disc harrows (14.04%), the company supplied equipment directly to its representative office in Russia "Gregoire Besson Vostok". Revenue significantly (by more than -50%) decreased in 2024 vs 2023.