Putin Orders Seizure of U.S. Packaging Maker’s Russian Plant

Sep. 21, 2026 Vladimir Putin. kremlin.ru President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order on Monday placing the Russian subsidiary of Illinois-based packaging manufacturer AptarGroup under temporary government control, marking the Kremlin’s latest seizure of Western corporate assets. Aptar Vladimir — owned by Aptar Europe Holding — was transferred to H&N (Health & Nutrition), according to the order. H&N previously took over French dairy giant Danone’s Russian assets after the Kremlin seized them under a similar executive order in 2023. Aptar represents at least the fifth major Western company the Kremlin has targeted in less than a week. Last Thursday, Putin placed the Russian operations of French supermarket chain Auchan, Swiss food giant Nestlé, home improvement retailer Lemana PRO (formerly Leroy Merlin) and French logistics operators FM Logistics and Bati Logistics under the control of L.E.V. Management, a little-known Russian firm. The newspaper Kommersant estimated those previously seized assets to be worth at least 600 billion rubles ($7.14 billion). Moscow has defended the expropriations as retaliation for “unfriendly” actions by Western countries that introduced sanctions against Russia and support Ukraine. Monday’s decree also follows U.S. President Donald Trump signing a sweeping sanctions bill into law that allows him to impose punitive tariffs against countries that buy Russian oil and gas. However, it was not immediately clear whether the seizure of Aptar Vladimir was retaliation for that sanctions legislation. Russia has seized the assets of at least 30 foreign companies since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, including Carlsberg, Fortum, Uniper, Ariston, Bosch and AB. The Kyiv School of Economics Institute estimates the pre-takeover value of seized foreign assets at $74 billion, with total losses for foreign companies leaving Russia reaching $170 billion through write-offs, court rulings and exit taxes. In August, Putin signed an executive order that allows the government to take control of strategically important facilities if the owners fail to protect them from Ukrainian attacks or to quickly repair damage from strikes. Read more about: United States , Business Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Citibank to Stop Servicing Client Accounts in Russia – Reuters The bank, one of the largest Western lenders on the Russian market, advised clients to transfer their remaining funds to other banks as soon as possible... 2 Min read Buyback Options Expired for 30% of U.S. Companies That Left Russia, AmCham Says AmCham Russia President Robert Agee previously estimated that around 150 U.S. companies have left Russia, while a similar number remain. 2 Min read Russian Market Slides Amid Global Panic Over Trump’s Tariffs Among the biggest losers on Monday was En+ Group, the parent company of aluminum tycoon Oleg Deripaska’s Rusal, which fell 9.76%. 2 Min read Putin Authorizes U.S. Hedge Fund to Buy Russian Securities A decree permits 683 Capital Partners LP to buy Russian company securities from 11 other funds, mostly based in the U.S. and Britain. 1 Min read