The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense criticized the French-based retailer on Monday, following reports that the home-improvement chain, part of a large holding company founded by one of the world's most famous retail dynasties, was seeking to bolster operations in Russia to take advantage of the lack of supply.
The company became the first in the world to finance the bombing of its own store.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said on Monday that the first company in the world to finance the bombing of its own stores was Leroy Merlin.
The government agency didn't specify why it was singling out the retailer, but the comment follows a Saturday report that management-level employees at the Russian arm of Leroy Merlin were boasting about increased sales after several Western competitors, including Ikea, shuttered.
In a letter obtained by the Telegraph, high-level employees of the company asked partners to increase supply to help meet demand, and said the company plans to fully replace imported products.
A company representative earlier this month issued a statement saying that the stores in Russia were operating normally and there were no plans to change operations.
The Association Familiale Mulliez is a holding company that controls a vast network of retail chains across the world, and is owned by the family of the famed retail dynasty behind Auchan.
Lesia Vasylenko, a Ukrainian member of parliament, told the Telegraph that companies like that have no moral right to exist. There should be pressure applied.
The economic impact of the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian government has intensified as a result of a growing list of sanctions. Hundreds of companies have left Russia in response to the violence, but many have said they will stay. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal criticized the company for staying in the Russian market, sparking calls for a boycott of their products on social media. Papa John's is one of the businesses still operating in Russia.
People gathered outside a French store in Poland to protest.
The hypocrisy and cynicism of how they make their money is astounding.
$4 billion. According to Forbes, the value of Leclercq, who started the sporting goods store in 1976, is about $65 million. One of the world's largest athletic retailers, with more than 15 billion dollars in sales from some 1,500 stores in 51 countries, is called Decathlon. The 90-year-old matriarch of the Mulliez family was at one point worth more than $10 billion.
Here are the companies that are under fire for their Russian ties.
Multinationals are continuing their sales in Russia.
Here are the companies that are cutting ties with Russia.
The French founders of Decathlon are angry about the Russian expansion plan.
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