Russian Subsidiary of German Retailer Metro Donates $12M to Military Fund

Oct. 23, 2026 A Metro store in Russia. Gennady Grachev (CC BY 2.0) The nationalized Russian subsidiary of German wholesale giant Metro announced Friday that it donated 1 billion rubles ($12.4 million) to a pro-war charitable foundation linked to the Kremlin. The funds were sent to a foundation called “People’s Front. Everything for Victory!” — which is managed by President Vladimir Putin’s political coalition, the All-Russia People’s Front (ONF). “As part of Russia’s economic system, we consider it important to participate in the state’s strategic initiatives,” Metro Russia CEO Johannes Tholey said. Metro’s donation will be used to buy tactical gear, off-road vehicles, communications equipment, intelligence hardware and anti-drone systems for Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, according to senior ONF executive Sergei Gorbunov. Metro AG, the parent company of Metro Russia, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The move comes after Putin signed an executive order on Sept. 28 placing Metro Russia under “temporary management” of the state. Tholey is the CEO of the state-appointed entity that now manages Metro Russia, Torg Rus. Metro’s takeover comes alongside similar seizures of major Western companies in recent weeks, 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 there. He said control of the companies could be returned under favorable conditions. Earlier in October, The Bell reported that the Russian government expects businesses to pay $5.7 billion in voluntary contributions to plug a widening budget deficit amid record war spending. Read more about: 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 Russian Mortgage Lending Hits January Record as Borrowers Rush Ahead of Rule Changes The surge was driven by borrowers rushing to secure loans ahead of changes to the popular “family mortgage” program that took effect on Feb. 1. 2 Min read U.S. Carlyle Group Agrees to Buy Most of Lukoil’s Foreign Assets The assets include shares in oil fields and refineries across the globe, including in Iraq, Azerbaijan, Egypt, the UAE, Nigeria and Mexico. 1 Min read Russia Delays Launch of Yekaterinburg Microchip Plant to 2027 The Karat factory had previously been scheduled to begin operations by the end of 2026, but construction has still not yet begun. 2 Min read Finance Ministry Eyes Online Casino Legalization to Boost Revenues – Kommersant Finance Minister Anton Siluanov reportedly suggested lifting Russia’s ban on online casinos, which have been illegal since 2009, as the government looks... 2 Min read