The Kremlin announced on Monday that President Vladimir Putin has placed the Russian operations of German retailer Metro AG under a "temporary forced administration," according to a decree published by the Kremlin.
The decree names Russian management company Torg RUS as the temporary administrator of 100% of Metro's assets in Russia. Metro AG has said that Torg RUS is owned by Johannes Tholey, the chief executive of Metro Russia.
What Metro Says
Metro AG — which runs membership-only wholesale supermarkets serving businesses — said it retains formal ownership of its Russian unit but no longer has operational control. The company described the Kremlin’s action as a "temporary forced administration." Metro entered the Russian market in 2001 and currently operates 91 outlets in the country, employing around 9,000 people.
Broader Context
The move follows recent actions by Russian authorities affecting other foreign firms, including food producer Nestlé and French department store chain Auchan. The Kremlin has tied those measures to firms from so-called "unfriendly" countries, asserting that some Western governments have supported Ukraine in ways that contribute to attacks on Russian territory.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said military aid to Ukraine was being used to strike civilian and economic infrastructure inside Russia.
Ukrainian forces have conducted drone strikes deep inside Russian territory while defending against Moscow’s full-scale invasion, which began more than four and a half years ago. Recent strikes have damaged or destroyed logistics centres used by major Russian online retailers such as Wildberries and Ozon.
Metro’s Rationale And Next Steps
Metro AG has said it chose to remain in Russia after the 2022 escalation of the war out of responsibility to its employees and to customers who depend on Metro Russia for supplies. The group also noted the unit’s significance to its overall portfolio and shareholders.
Since the start of the invasion, Metro AG says it implemented measures to reduce operational and legal links between Metro Russia and the parent company. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has previously warned of countermeasures in response to Western sanctions, including seizures of assets.
The decree does not detail how long the forced administration will last or how day-to-day operations will change under Torg RUS. The development is likely to affect employees, suppliers and business customers reliant on Metro’s network in Russia.
