IKEA fires 10,000 workers in Russia over war in Ukraine

IKEA has joined a group of retailers who have decided to stop trading in Russia following Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine in February and the horrors witnessed in the months that followed< /p> The IKEA logo (written in Russian) on the front of a store in Saint Petersburg (

Image: SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

IKEA cut 10,000 jobs after shutting down all operations in Russia.

The Swedish furniture giant reported a 6% rise in sales for the full year today, calling it a “difficult” year due to inflation and its decision to cut sales. operations in Russia.

The company, which arrived in Russia in March after Moscow invaded Ukraine, has already 'had to say goodbye' to around 10,000 of its 12,000 employees in Russia, Jesper Brodin, the director general of the Ingka holding company which runs the bulk of Ikea stores, told AFP.

Dozens of consumer brands have suspended operations in Russia after Moscow sent tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine on Feb. 24, with H&M, IKEA and Nike among companies announcing plans to leave Russia for good. Ukraine.

IKEA, the world's largest furniture brand, closed its stores in March and announced it would sell factories, close offices and cut its 15,000 employees in Russia.

The Ingka Group, owner of IKEA stores and one of the world's largest shopping center owners, has, however, maintained its "Mega" shopping centers in Russia.

Thousands of Russians line up on March 22, 2000 to attend the opening of Sweden's first Ikea furniture store in the northern suburbs of Moscow (

Picture:

AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

Ikea follows a long list of global brands that decided to abandon Russia after Putin's actions.

In May,