One of Russia’s richest men, Oleg Tinkov, has criticized the country’s “massacre” in Ukraine and called for an end to the “crazy war”.
Writing in a profanity-littered Instagram post, Tinkov said he does not know “any beneficiary” of the conflict and that about 90 percent of Russians don’t support the war..
Russia’s war Ukraine began on February 24 leading to the death of thousands of Ukrainian civilians, and millions leaving the country.
Tinkov was among 65 individuals and entities sanctioned by the United Kingdom on March 24 for “supporting Russia’s illegal invasion.” He owns 35% of Tinkoff Bank’s parent company, TCS Group, and is worth about $3.5 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
The Russian entrepreneur, claimed that Kremlin officials were in a state of shock that they would no longer be able to spend their summers in the Mediterranean.
“I don’t see a single beneficiary of this insane war,” he wrote.
Sanctions on Russia have slashed $300 billion worth of Russia’s reserves and plunged the economy into a deep recession. While Western companies have exited the country, and the European Union has closed its airspace to Russian airlines and aircraft.
“The Kremlin’s civil servants are in shock that not only they but also their children won’t go to the Mediterranean this summer. Businessmen are trying save what’s left of their property,” Tinkov wrote.
Referring to the Z symbol written on Russian tanks that has become a sign of popular support for the war in Russia, Tinkov said there were “idiots that write the letter Z but there are about 10% idiots in all countries. 90% of Russians are AGAINST this war.”
Switching to English at the end of his post, he called on the West to “give Mr. Putin a clear exit to save his face and stop this massacre.”
“Please be more rational and humanitarian,” he added.
He’s not the only Oligarch that has called for an end to war in Ukraine.
Oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Oleg Deripaska spoke out against the conflict in late February following Russia’s invasion.
Fridman, wrote in a letter to staff that he wanted the “bloodshed to end.” Deripaska said in a post on Telegram: “Peace is very important! Negotiations need to start as soon as possible!”