Russia's Metro backs war against Ukraine with 1 billion rubles
Photo: Metro retail chain in Russia (Russian media)
Metro's retail chain in Russia has donated 1 billion rubles to a fund that supports the country's military. Legally, the Russian subsidiary still belongs to the German company, according to Vedomosti and a post by Ukrainian MP Olha Vasylevska-Smahliuk.
Russia's Metro backs the war
Metro has donated 1 billion rubles (approximately $12.4 million) to the People's Front Everything for Victory fund.
The money is to be used to purchase equipment for the "special military operation" zone. It will help "address urgent needs for the purchase of heavy-duty vehicles, communications and reconnaissance systems, and anti-drone equipment," Vedomosti writes.
However, Metro stated that some of the money would go toward humanitarian and social needs.
Metro's history in Russia
Vasylevska-Smahliuk noted that, at the same time, Russian forces are attacking Metro stores and warehouses in Ukraine.
"This is a German retail chain that did not leave the Russian market after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, on September 28, 2026, Putin transferred its Russian assets to the temporary management of Johannes Tholey, head of Metro's division in Russia," she added.
Germany's Metro AG said it had lost operational control over its Russian business, although it formally remains its owner.
"Tholey himself told Vedomosti that, as part of Russia's economic system, Metro considers participation in the state's strategic initiatives important," Vasylevska-Smahliuk wrote.
She added that, in the view of Russia’s Metro branch, this initiative involves financing the war against Ukraine.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that the Metro shopping center in Rivne suspended operations on October 21 following a Russian drone strike. No one was injured.
In addition, the Metro shopping center in Zaporizhzhia temporarily suspended operations starting August 1. The company explained that the decision was due to repeated forced closures amid the security situation.
