'Exiting is not straightforward': Unilever tries to justify staying in Russia

The British giant in the field of food and household chemicals Unilever explained its decision to continue operations in Russia, the BBC writes.

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The company said: "We understand why there are calls for Unilever to leave Russia. We also want to be clear that we are not trying to protect or manage our business in Russia. However, for companies like Unilever, which have a significant physical presence in the country, exiting is not straightforward".

Unilever also added that if they left Russia immediately, their brands would be appropriated and put into production by the Russian state.

The company explains that it had no "desirable" options, but continuing to do business in Russia with "strict constraints" was the best course of action under the circumstances.

In turn, the Moral Rating Agency (MRA), which evaluates the progress of companies in exiting Russia, accused Unilever of facilitating the Russian invasion.

MRA founder Mark Dixon said: "Unilever must stop hiding behind its balance sheet and excuses to face the reality that selling an ice cream can allow Putin to pay for a bullet."

On Monday, Ukraine's National Agency on Corruption Prevention included the British corporation Unilever in the list of international sponsors of the war.

After that, activists of the Ukraine Solidarity Project installed a billboard "Helping to fund Russia's war in Ukraine" near the headquarters of the Unilever company in London. Activists are hoping for a reaction from the company's new CEO.