Activists unveiled a billboard showing wounded Ukrainian soldiers, in the style of Dove adverts, at Unilever’s London HQ because it is still trading inside Russia. Kyiv accused the multinational giant, which prides itself on its “social purpose”, of being “an international sponsor of war”.
Ukraine says Unilever, which makes Marmite, Hellmann’s mayonnaise and Dove beauty products, is “contributing hundreds of millions in tax revenues to a state which is killing civilians”.
War veterans and international activists erected the billboard on the day the firm’s new chief Hein Schumacher began work. It coincided with Unilever being added to the Kyiv Government’s international sponsors of war list.
At the protest Anna Nolan, from the Ukraine Solidarity Project in London, mocked the giant’s claim that it was reviewing its position.
She said it raised questions on “what it would take for them to leave Russia, given the amount of war crimes committed”.
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And she added: “It prides itself on being a leader when it comes to environmental and social responsibility. But it has a blind spot when it comes to conflict-affected areas and Ukrainians are paying the price for that lack of leadership.”
Laws in Russia require large companies to contribute directly to the war effort, including potentially through the conscription of Unilever’s 3,000-strong workforce.
And Valeriia Voshchevska, another spokeswoman for the activists, claimed that by staying in Russia, Unilever was also funding the Wagner mercenary group which MPs in Britain have urged to be designated a terrorist organisation.
Valeriia said: “Unilever risks its staff and resources being mobilised into Putin’s machine. Some of the world’s biggest companies have already left Russia. It’s possible – after 16 months of war – the time for excuses has passed.”
The global leader in food and household goods owns more than 400 brands including Cif, Domestos, Brooke Bond and Lipton. But it hinted it would continue its current stance, despite saying it was “not trying to protect or manage our business in Russia”.
Carrying on would “avoid the risk of our business ending up in the hands of the Russian state, either directly or indirectly, and help protect our people”.
It added: “We continue to condemn the war. Our focus remains on ensuring the wellbeing of our Ukrainian employees, including by helping them find safety in nearby countries and by setting up accommodation in the west of Ukraine for those who have chosen to stay.
“We have also donated more than €15million of support and essential Unilever products to the humanitarian relief effort.”
The company added that since March 2022, it had ceased all imports and exports of its products into and out of Russia and stopped all media and advertising spending.
It now sells only food and hygiene products made there