Russian billionaire Oleg Tinkov denounces the “crazy war” in Ukraine | Ukraine

Russian billionaire Oleg Tinkov denounced the Moscow “massacre” in Ukraine He urged the West to help end “this crazy war”.

Tinkov offered some of the strongest criticism from a prominent Russian of the Kremlin’s military action, claiming on the Internet that 90% of Russians were “against this war” and calling Russian forces a “nonsense army”.

Tinkoff is one of Russia’s most famous entrepreneurs, and he founded Tinkoff Bank in 2006. He has resided outside Russia in recent years.

“The generals woke up with a hangover and realized they had a bullshit army,” Tinkov, 54, wrote on Instagram.

“And how good would the army be, if everything else in the country was steeped in nepotism, flattery, and subservience?”

The businessman targeted by Western sanctions added: “I don’t see a single beneficiary from this crazy war! Innocents and soldiers are dying.”

Turning to English, Tinkoff, who resigned as chairman of Tinkoff Bank in 2020, wrote: “Dear ‘Collective West’, please give Putin a clear way out to save his face and stop this massacre. Please be more reasonable and humane.”

And he published his statement on the 55th day of the Moscow military campaign, during which Russian forces launched a new major offensive in the eastern Donbass region.

“90% of Russians are against this war!” Tinkoff said. “Of course there are idiots who draw Z but 10 percent of any 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 vacation in the Mediterranean. “Businessmen are trying to salvage what’s left of their holdings.”

Russian authorities have sought to stifle dissent over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and have imposed prison terms of up to 15 years for its publication. What the Kremlin calls “fake news” about the army.

Tinkoff Bank said in a statement that it would not comment on Tinkov’s “private opinion,” saying it no longer makes decisions about operations across 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 largest refugee crisis since World War Two.

with AFP