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Russian authorities have taken control of the Russian assets of French supermarket chain Auchan, Swiss food company Nestlé, and the former construction materials retailer Leroy Merlin. The move, announced on September 17, 2023, places these assets under temporary management, effectively stripping the companies of control over their Russian operations.

Foreign entities have been cautioned against remaining in Russia due to the high risk of assets being seized, legal and financial liabilities, and reputational damage, as the Kremlin increasingly uses foreign-owned businesses for political leverage. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the decree granting control to L.E.V. Management, a little-known Russian company led by Andrei Krayushkin, a former Russian Interior Ministry official.

The Kremlin cited the companies' ties to countries supporting Ukraine as the reason for the seizure. Svyrydenkov, a representative of the B4Ukraine coalition, had warned these companies about the growing risks of operating in Russia, as Russia is largely self-sufficient in food and has a severe labor shortage. Despite these warnings, Auchan and Nestlé chose to stay in Russia, with Auchan operating around 230 stores across 100 cities and Nestlé maintaining six production sites in the country.

Nestlé stated it would assess its options and protect its rights and employees' continuity. The seizure of these assets reflects a broader pattern of Russia using temporary administration to seize Western-owned businesses since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.