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(https://www.themoscowtimes.com/contribute?utm_source=contribute&utm_medium=internal-header-mobile) Contribute today     (putin-hands-control-of-5-western-firms-to-ukraine-war-veteran-a93998.html) Putin Hands Control of 5 Western Firms to Ukraine War Veteran     Oct. 16, 2026     (https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/putin-hands-control-of-5-western-firms-to-ukraine-war-veteran-a93998) (Share on Facebook)   (https://twitter.com/intent/tweet/?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/putin-hands-control-of-5-western-firms-to-ukraine-war-veteran-a93998&text=Putin Hands Control of 5 Western Firms to Ukraine War Veteran) (Share on Twitter)   (https://telegram.me/share/url?url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/putin-hands-control-of-5-western-firms-to-ukraine-war-veteran-a93998) (Share on Telegram)   (https://wa.me/?text=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/putin-hands-control-of-5-western-firms-to-ukraine-war-veteran-a93998) (Share on WhatsApp)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#734c000611191610074e201b1201161749532306071a1d533b121d170053301c1d07011c1f531c155346532416000716011d53351a011e0053071c53261801121a1d1653241201532516071601121d55111c170a4e321d531201071a101f165315011c1e53271b16533e1c00101c0453271a1e160049531b07070300495c5c0404045d071b161e1c00101c04071a1e16005d101c1e5c414341455c42435c42455c0306071a1d5e1b121d17005e101c1d07011c1f5e1c155e465e0416000716011d5e151a011e005e071c5e061801121a1d165e0412015e0516071601121d5e124a404a4a4b) (Share with email)   (https://flipboard.com) (Share on Flipboard)   (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/16/putin-hands-control-of-5-western-firms-to-ukraine-war-veteran-a93998/pdf) (Download as PDF)         Marat Mirkhaidarov.  Social media    President Vladimir Putin (http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202610150039?index=2#print)  signed  a decree Thursday placing the Russian assets of five major Western manufacturing companies under the temporary management of a little-known firm owned by an ex-official who fought in Ukraine.  The targeted European and U.S. assets include French flooring giant Tarkett, Belgian hygiene manufacturer Ontex Ru, German plastic packager Menshen, corrugated producer Kappa Rus and metal packaging producer Eviosys, a subsidiary of the U.S. Sonoco Products Company.  Their combined 2025 revenue (https://theins.ru/news/298363)  exceeds  53 billion rubles ($633.2 million), with Tarkett accounting for 19.3 billion rubles, Kappa Rus 16.5 billion rubles, Ontex Ru 10.3 billion rubles, and Eviosys and Menshen 6.1 billion rubles and 1.4 billion rubles, respectively.  Putin’s decree hands management rights to Tsentr Kapital Management Company, a Moscow entity established in February 2026, according to corporate registry data (https://www.rbc.ru/politics/15/10/2026/6ad1340bfe5156c3455b3a67?from=main_lines_5)  cited  by RBC.  Tsentr Kapital is owned by 47-year-old Marat Mirkhaidarov, the former deputy governor and chief of staff of Far East Russia’s Zabaikalsky region.  Mirkhaidarov volunteered to serve in Ukraine with Chechnya’s Akhmat unit in early 2024, (https://www.agents.media/poluchivshij-po-resheniyu-putina-aktivy-pyati-inostrannyh-kompanij-eks-chinovnik-poprosil-agentstvo-ne-pisat-ob-etom-chtoby-ne-pomogat-vragam/)  according  to exiled media reports.  “I’m a patriot, I served in the special military operation [in Ukraine]. I have combat awards,” Mirkhaidarov told the Agentstvo outlet on Friday, expressing caution about his and his family’s safety over the news.   news (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2026/10/19/kremlin-seizes-nestle-and-auchan-assets-in-latest-business-crackdown) (Kremlin Seizes Nestlé and Auchan Assets in Latest Business Crackdown) Kremlin Seizes Nestlé and Auchan Assets in Latest Business Crackdown  Read more    Mirkhaidarov stepped down from his regional administration post in March 2025, citing the need for medical rehabilitation after sustaining injuries during a delivery mission near the frontline.  Putin (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/04/26/putin-allows-seizure-of-unfriendly-foreign-assets-a80940)  signed  an order in 2023 granting the state the authority to place foreign assets under its temporary management. The regime strips foreign owners of operational control over their Russian subsidiaries while preserving nominal legal title.  Moscow has described the asset seizures as a response to “hostile actions” taken by “unfriendly” foreign governments.  On Friday, the Kremlin (https://t.me/youlistenedmayak/44634)  said  the latest transfers represent a continued policy “trend” targeting countries that froze more than 210 billion euros in Russian reserves in Europe.  “Their origin was one of the factors taken into account when making the decision,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a daily briefing.  “We’re talking about those countries that take part in illegally holding Russian money, Russian assets. These are countries that take part in the illegal expropriation of Russian companies’ property,” Peskov said.  Reuters contributed reporting.      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But It Won’t Be Easy)    opinion  Janis Kluge Tougher Sanctions on Russia Are Possible. But It Won’t Be Easy  There still exist economic levers that could pressure Russia to end the war. But even if the will exists, imposing sanctions won't be simple. 5 Min read      (https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2022/12/27/ukraine-war-international-isolation-fuels-russian-mental-health-crisis-a79773) (Ukraine War, International Isolation Fuels Russian Mental Health ‘Crisis’)    Feature  Ukraine War, International Isolation Fuels Russian Mental Health ‘Crisis’  Boris started taking antidepressants for the first time in his life at the end of February, shortly after Russian tanks rolled across the border into Ukraine...              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