Agri-food and hygiene products giant Unilever was singled out Monday 3 July by kyiv and campaigners in London for the activity it maintains in Russia despite the conflict in Ukraine.
Auchan, Total, Renault…embarrassing French companies in Russia
The Ukrainian National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption added the company to its list “International War Sponsors”According to a press release issued on Monday. Unilever is featured “Because of its continued presence in the Russian Federation and the large taxes that enter the Russian state budget” and support Russia’s war against UkraineThe statement said.
sequel after announcement
Ukrainian and British activists demonstrated Monday morning outside the headquarters of the multinational corporation in London, displaying, in particular, a giant billboard in a style reminiscent of advertisements for Dove soap, one of Unilever’s brands, in which wounded Ukrainian soldiers appeared.
Unilever says it does not want to part with its Russian employees
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Unilever has been suspended All imports and exports to and from Russia As well as all advertising expenses in the country, and claims not to invest in it.
Asked by AFP, the group on Monday referred to a press release dating back to February in which it said so “For companies like Unilever, which have a large physical presence in the country, getting out is not easy.”.
The company, which Dutchman Hein Schumacher has just taken over at the helm, employs more than 3,000 people in Russia, where it continues to supply its locally produced food and hygiene products.
sequel after announcement
The war in Ukraine: the European economy resists
says the company ” To understand “ He calls for his complete exit from the country, but says he does not want to abandon his staff in Russia and maintains that if he did, his activities would be exploited by the Russian state. And the group indicated in its annual results for the year 2022, that 2% of its net profits came from Russia, on a net profit that increased by 26% to 7.6 billion euros.
The Kyiv School of Economics estimates Unilever paid at least $331m (just over €300m) in taxes last year in Russia, nearly doubling its profits in one year.
