Full Breakdown
Russia Transfers Western Firm Assets to LEV Management Amid Heightened Tensions Over Ukraine Support
By Drooid · · How we work
Asset-Seizure Decree
On September 18, 2026, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree placing the Russian operations of Swiss food giant Nestlé, French retailer Auchan, former Leroy Merlin DIY chain now operating as Lemana Pro, and French logistics group FM Logistic under the temporary control of LE V Management. The decree covers 16 businesses, including Nestlé’s Russian subsidiaries, two FM Logistic entities, and Lemana Pro’s 112 stores. Russian lawyers say the move is “temporary administration,” a step that has previously preceded the sale of foreign-owned assets.
Diplomatic Protest to the United Kingdom
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Britain’s charge d’affaires Danae Dholakia in Moscow, accusing the United Kingdom of increasing weapons supplies to Kyiv and labeling London an “accomplice to the bloody atrocities” of the Kyiv regime.
Background: Sanctions and Asset Controls
Since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Russia has tightened control over Western-owned assets, requiring presidential approval for exits and often placing firms under “temporary administration.” The 2023 Danone takeover, initially managed by a relative of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, set a precedent for such actions. The current decree follows a pattern of retaliation against firms from “unfriendly” countries that continue to support Ukraine.
Data & Statistics
- Nestlé: about 7,000 employees and six factories in Russia; sales now just over 1 % of the group’s total.
- Auchan Retail Russia: roughly 30,000 employees, ?230 stores and an online platform.
- Lemana Pro: runs 112 stores across Russia.
- LE V Management: created late 2025; its general director Andrei Krayushkin appointed on September 10, 2026. Shareholders are undisclosed and the firm showed no active operations in its 2025 accounts.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Russian Foreign Ministry framed the UK’s arms deliveries as “accomplice to the bloody atrocities” and warned that any British military facilities used for strikes would be “legitimate targets.”
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the decree targets firms from “unfriendly countries” involved in military actions against Russia and stressed that the assets remain under “temporary administration” with no final decisions yet.
- Auchan Retail Russia told RBC it had requested clarification and that its stores continued to operate normally.
- Lemana Pro told Kommersant it had not received official information but that operations were ongoing.
Data & Statistics Summary
The seizure affects 16 enterprises and involves approximately 43,000 employees across the four Western groups. Nestlé’s Russian sales are now just over 1 % of its global revenue, while Auchan maintains a sizable footprint with ?230 stores.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No official comment has been received from FM Logistic regarding the decree.
What’s Next
The decree does not set a timeline for transfer or sale of the assets. Russian authorities have not indicated whether they will nationalise the assets or facilitate their sale to domestic investors. The United Kingdom’s diplomatic protest suggests further exchanges may follow, while Western firms monitor the legal and operational implications of the temporary administration.