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 CompletedIt is noted that back in 2012, the company planned to enter the Russian market and for several years analyzed the sales and implementation of its technologies in the Russian Federation. Against the background of these contacts, private companies operating under the name VTA appeared, in particular VTA Eurasia, which positioned itself as the official representative of the Austrian company. An officer of the Russian GRU, associated with a special unit for sabotage operations abroad, visited Austria for years and established contacts with an engineer of VTA Austria GmbH, a company that is part of a global wastewater treatment network. This investigation clarifies the interaction between Russian intelligence and the Austrian company, as well as the context of the use of technologies in countries around the world, including Ukraine.