Russian tycoon Oleg Tinkov condemned Moscow’s “massacre” in Ukraine and called on the West to help end “this insane war.”
Offering some of the strongest criticism from a prominent Russian of the Kremlin’s military action, Tinkov said online that 90 percent of Russians were “against this war” and called Russian forces a “shit army.”
Tinkov is one of the most famous entrepreneurs in Russia and founded Tinkoff Bank in 2006. In recent years, it has been based outside Russia.
“Waking up with a hangover, the generals realized they had a shitty army,” Tinkov, 54, wrote on Instagram.
“And how good would the army be if everything else in the country was shit and mired in nepotism, flattery and servility?”
The businessman, who was a target of Western sanctions, added: “I do not see ANY beneficiary of this crazy war! Innocent people and soldiers are dying. “
Turning to English, Tinkov, who resigned as chairman of Tinkoff Bank in 2020, wrote: “Dear, ‘collective west’, please give Mr Putin a clear way out to save his face and stop this. slaughter. Please be more rational and humanitarian. “
He issued the statement on the 55th day of Moscow’s military campaign, when Russian forces launched a new major offensive in the Eastern Donbass region.
“90 percent of Russians are against this war!” said Tinkov. “Of course, there are idiots who paint Z, but 10 percent of each country are idiots,” he said, referring to what has become a Russian symbol of support for the war.
He added that Kremlin officials were “shocked” that they and their children would no longer be able to spend their summer holidays in the Mediterranean. “Businessmen are trying to save what’s left of their property.”
Russian authorities have tried to quell disagreement over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine by imposing up to 15 years in prison for publishing what the Kremlin calls “fake news” about the military.
Tinkoff Bank said in a statement that it would not comment on Tinkov’s “private opinion”, saying that it no longer decides on the operations of companies under the Tinkoff brand. “He is not an employee of Tinkoff.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine on February 24. The conflict has killed thousands and displaced more than 12 million in Europe’s biggest refugee crisis since World War II.
With Agence France-Presse
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