Stores in Russia

Activists want boycott of Milka chocolate bunnies

Shortly before Easter, Ukrainian activists are calling for a boycott of a popular chocolate bunny: The Milka sweets should be banned from the shelves, they say, as the US parent company Mondelez is still doing business in Russia despite the war in Ukraine. 

After Moscow invaded Ukraine, many companies withdrew from the Russian market. Mondelez did not - which is why the Vitsche organization called on German supermarket chains to ban the Milka range from their shelves. Mondelez continues to operate three factories in Russia, although the company promised to reduce its business there. 

Organization calls for "morality in business"
"Companies like Mondelez are indirectly financing Russia's illegal war against Ukraine," the activists accuse in a letter to the Rewe and Edeka chains, which was obtained by Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. Although the organization praised the fact that the two supermarket groups are no longer selling products made in Russia after the attack on Ukraine in February 2022, it said this was not enough. "We are counting on your support to show Mondelez that morality has a place in business, especially when we consider that Russia continues to commit war crimes in Ukraine."

The Ukrainian government's National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NACP) also drew attention to the company's activities in Russia. Just under a year ago, it placed Mondelez on the list of "international sponsors of war". The US company also owns brands such as Oreo, Toblerone and Ritz.