Ikea closes stores in Russia following sanctions imposed after invasion in Ukraine

Record ID: 1662152

  • Title: Ikea closes stores in Russia following sanctions imposed after invasion in Ukraine
  • Date: 3rd March 2022
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 3, 2022) (REUTERS) PEOPLE QUEUING IN FRONT OF THE IKEA STORE IKEA LOGO ABOVE STORE ENTRANCE WOMEN WITH IKEA BAGS LEAVING THE STORE, PEOPLE QUEUING IKEA CUSTOMERS SHOPPING CUSTOMERS QUEUING BY INFORMATION STAND CUSTOMERS WALKING IN STORE SHELVES WITH LAMPS ROSTOV-ON-DON (MARCH 3, 2022) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF IKEA STORE IKEA LOGO CUSTOMERS IN STORE WOMAN LOOKING AT IKEA PRODUCTS SOUNDBITE (Russian) MANICURIST, VIKTORIYA VOLOSHINA, SAYING: "I'm very upset - that is why the purchases I had planned to make in April, I urgently make today. A friend from Voronezh asked me to buy everything for her. My heart is torn with grief." CUSTOMERS PUSHING TROLLEYS FILLED WITH IKEA PRODUCTS SOUNDBITE (Russian) MANICURIST, VIKTORIYA VOLOSHINA, SAYING: "Since I have my own office, I am a manicurist. I need some tables and worktops. It's a must-have for everyone." CUSTOMERS QUEUING WITH TROLLEYS FILLED WITH PRODUCTS IKEA STAFF WORKER PUSHING CARTS PAST CUSTOMERS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING SOUNDBITE (Russian) IKEA CUSTOMER, ALEXANDR KONSTANTINOV, SAYING: (ON WHETHER HE GOT EVERYTHING HE CAME FOR) "On the contrary, we did not get what we planned because nothing is left." VARIOUS OF CUSTOMERS QUEUING
  • Embargoed: 17th March 2022 19:53
  • Keywords: Ikea Russia Ukraine crisis sanctions
  • Location: MOSCOW AND ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA
  • City: MOSCOW AND ROSTOV-ON-DON, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Europe,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001190403032022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Homeware company IKEA announced the shutdown of stores in Russia on Thursday (March 3) following sanctions imposed after the invasion of Ukraine.
    The world's biggest furniture brand is closing its stores in Russia and pausing all sourcing in the country and ally Belarus.
    It joins a wave of Western firms curbing business with Russia since the conflict started on February 24.
    Hundreds of Moscow and Rostov-on-Don residents went shopping at their local branches on the final trading day for the foreseeable future.
    Manicurist Viktoria Voloshina told Reuters she had planned to make a number of purchases in April but brought her trip forward following the news.
    So busy were the stores that fellow shopper Alexandr Konstantinov said many items were sold out and he was unable to buy everything he wanted.
    IKEA's announcement said it would suspend all exports and imports from Russia and Belarus for at least three months from Friday (March 4).
    Western sanctions, including shutting out some Russian banks from the SWIFT global financial network, new export controls, and closure of air space, have led dozens of global companies to pause operations in the country, hammered the rouble, and forced the central bank to jack up interest rates.
    Hundreds of Russian soldiers and Ukrainian civilians have been killed, and more than one million people have fled Ukraine in the week since President Vladimir Putin ordered the attack.
    Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation" that it says is not designed to occupy territory but to destroy its southern neighbour's military capabilities and capture what it regards as dangerous nationalists.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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