DW reported the information, citing the Russian media.
It noted that the new owner of the company is now the Shopping Galleries company.
According to the information on the company's website, the Russian portfolio of Ceetrus includes over 150 thousand square meters of retail space. It manages 40 shopping centers and galleries.
On February 18, 2023, a joint investigation by The Insider, Le Monde, and Bellingcat found that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Russian branch of the French Auchan has been supplying goods to the Russian military in the occupied territories of Ukraine under the guise of "humanitarian aid" to the civilian population. The goods in question were both from Auchan warehouses and collected on the territory of the chain's stores in different regions of Russia. It has also been established that the Russian Auchan helped military enlistment offices recruit mobilized people from among its employees.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba responded to this information. He noted that he would discuss Auchan's activities in Russia with his French counterpart.
The Auchan chain in Ukraine demanded explanations from the French office. Subsequently, Auchan's central office denied the accusations of helping the Russian army and facilitating mobilization.
On February 23, Ukraine’s National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption added the French corporation Auchan to the list of international sponsors of Russia's war in Ukraine.
Later it became known that the company knew about the supply of its goods to the Russian military and tried to hide it by placing orders with 10 private companies in St. Petersburg.
On March 10, Reuters published an article stating that the French company Auchan, despite the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, plans to open another store in Russia and double its presence in the Russian market.
Subsequently, the French retailer denied that it was planning to expand its network in Russia and called its activities a mission.