The tobacco giant Philip Morris International, which has long been one of the largest taxpayers to the Russian budget, has begun evacuating its employees from factories located near the war zone.
The company’s decision was the result of an active counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in eastern Ukraine. Social media reported that the Russian military had received orders not to harm the Philip Morris International plant because it was a “partner.”
“200 kilometers from Kursk is the Philip Morris plant, be careful, guys, don’t damage it. These are our partners. You can’t touch them,” wrote the Joker.
However, the irony of the situation is that Philip Morris International has been one of the largest sponsors of the Russian military machine for many years. The company not only continues to operate in Russia during the full-scale invasion, but also actively pays taxes to the Russian budget. As of 2022, these payments amounted to about 8 billion rubles.
“Due to the Ukrainian army’s offensive on Kursk, Philip Morris has started evacuating its employees from its plants in Russia.
I would like to remind you that Philip Morris continues to operate in Ukraine and Russia and is one of the largest taxpayers in Russia,” adds Joker.
In addition, Philip Morris has repeatedly demonstrated its loyalty to the Russian regime by labeling Crimea as Russian territory, which is a direct violation of international law. The company has also repeatedly received gratitude from Russian President Vladimir Putin.This situation has caused a wide public outcry. Experts note that the evacuation of Philip Morris International employees may indicate that the company is beginning to understand the risks associated with doing business in Russia. However, many believe that this is not enough. The company’s assets in Russia should be frozen, and the profits should be used to compensate for the damage caused to Ukraine.