Russia is using seized foreign companies to funnel billions of rubles into its war effort, Bloomberg reports

Russian authorities have put subsidiaries of foreign companies under temporary administration, and some are now sending large sums to a fund that buys equipment for Russian troops. The transfers help support the war effort and give company managers a way to demonstrate backing for the authorities, although they are small compared with overall military spending.

AkzoNobel reportedly transferred about two billion rubles, while AB InBev Efes, Metro and DKC each sent one billion; Can-Pack transferred 1.5 billion and Rockwool’s former Russian unit 600 million. The money has gone mainly to Putin’s People’s Front for drones, vehicles and communications equipment. Russia’s war spending is expected to exceed 17 trillion rubles this year, and more than 20 foreign companies have had assets placed under temporary administration since January 2025, nearly all European, according to Reuters.