Russian oligarch business continues to operate in EU countries

Demonstrations took place in Strasbourg, Munich, Paris, and Stockholm, during which activists demanded tougher sanctions against Russian businesses and oligarchs that operate in the interests of Russia’s military-industrial complex while simultaneously maintaining operations in European countries and earning billions in Western money.

“Germany continues to be a key hub for the import of Russian titanium. It is here that Russian companies receive Western money while servicing the production of armored vehicles, combat aircraft, and missiles that Russia then actively uses in Ukraine, killing civilians and destroying cities,” said Kateryna Matei, a representative of the USCC in Germany, during her speech at a demonstration held as part of the Munich Security Conference.

Thus, Germany hosts subsidiaries of the Russian titanium producer VSMPO-AVISMA and Russia’s largest machine-building company Transmashholding; in Sweden, a plant of the aluminum company Rusal operates, owned by Russian oligarchs Viktor Vekselberg and sanctioned Oleg Deripaska; in France, cooperation with Rosatom continues, while Russian steel imports are facilitated by a company from the NLMK Group, owned by Russian steel magnate Vladimir Lisin.

In addition to their active operations in European countries, these companies and oligarchs are also united by their loyalty to Putin’s regime and systematic cooperation with Russia’s military machine in the production of weapons. At the same time, none of the listed companies are under European Union sanctions, nor are a significant number of their owners. All this demonstrates the extent of Russian influence not only on the economic sector of European countries. It allows Russia to maintain its positions in Europe, preserve tools for blackmail, and pursue its strategic goals.

Activists in Munich, Paris, Strasbourg, and Stockholm remind that #RussianBusinessKills, and therefore Russian businesses and their owners must be urgently sanctioned!

Currently, the #DefendingEurope campaign is ongoing in European countries, coordinated by the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center together with the European Congress of Ukrainians. The campaign aims to draw attention to the problem of Russian influence in European countries.