Deripaska, former owner of Mykolaiv plant, supports fundraising for the war in Russia

Oligarch Oleg Deripaska, who used to control the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant, supported the initiative to raise funds for the war. This refers to the Kremlin's proposal to involve big business in financing the hostilities against Ukraine.

This was reported by Liga.net.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a closed meeting with the country's largest businessmen to discuss the further conduct of the war against Ukraine and sources of its financing. According to media reports, the participants were actually offered to voluntarily contribute to the budget to support military spending.

One of the participants said that the main message from the Kremlin was clear: the war will continue. Another interlocutor noted that the intention was to continue fighting until the administrative borders of Donbas were completely reached.

After that, Putin offered businesses to make "voluntary contributions." The idea of raising funds allegedly belongs to the head of Rosneft, Igor Sechin, who had outlined it in a letter to the Kremlin the day before. Among the possible financing mechanisms, the placement of so-called military bonds was considered.

Some oligarchs reacted immediately during the meeting. In particular, according to sources, businessman Suleiman Kerimov promised to contribute about 100 billion rubles. Another participant, whose name was not disclosed, also supported the initiative, but without specifying the amount.

At the same time, Oleg Deripaska, a businessman who previously controlled the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant in Ukraine, was among those who approved the idea.

According to the sources, Putin also made it clear that he has no plans to wind down the war despite the economic difficulties. His goal remains the complete seizure of the Donetsk region, as, according to him, Ukraine does not agree to give up these territories.

In January 2025, the SBU blocked the supply of strategic raw materials for the Russian military industry. At the Mykolaiv Alumina Plant, the court seized raw materials worth more than UAH 2 billion belonging to Russian oligarch Deripaska.

Анна Літман