Nationalized Metro Russia Donates 1 Billion Rubles to War Support Fund

The nationalized Russian subsidiary of German wholesale company Metro announced on Friday, Oct. 23, that it had donated 1 billion rubles (about $12.4 million) to a foundation called "People's Front. Everything for Victory!" The foundation is run by the All-Russia People's Front (ONF), the political coalition of President Vladimir Putin. It supports Russia's war against Ukraine, so the donation shows how Western companies now under state control are being drawn into funding the war effort.

Metro Russia CEO Johannes Tholey said the company considers it important, as part of Russia's economic system, to take part in the state's strategic initiatives. According to senior ONF executive Sergei Gorbunov, the money will pay for tactical gear, off-road vehicles, communications equipment, intelligence hardware and anti-drone systems for Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine.

Metro AG, the German parent company, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

How the company came under state control

On Sept. 28, Putin signed an executive order placing Metro Russia under the "temporary management" of the state. Tholey heads Torg Rus, the state-appointed entity that now runs the business.

In recent weeks, other major Western companies have been taken over in a similar way, including retail chain Auchan, food giant Nestlé and logistics operator FM Logistic. Putin has defended the moves as a symmetrical response to Western sanctions and the freezing of Russian state assets abroad, adding that control of the companies could be returned under favorable conditions.

Earlier in October, The Bell reported that the Russian government expects businesses to make $5.7 billion in voluntary contributions to plug a widening budget deficit amid record war spending.