Asia’s richest man is helping the Kremlin wage war on Ukraine — and he’s doing it through Estonia
Mukesh Ambani, the Indian billionaire and owner of Reliance Industries, has emerged as the architect of a sanctions-busting scheme for Russia. His company processes a third of all Russian oil shipped to India. That means billions of dollars are flowing straight into the Kremlin — funding weapons and the army.
In the winter of 2022/2023, when Russia’s economy was on the brink of collapse and the Kremlin’s budget had a $21.2 billion hole, Ambani activated his sanctions-dodging scheme. Through a network of shadow traders in the Persian Gulf and Hong Kong, his company began buying up Russian oil at a discount. Billions soon poured into Moscow.
The irony: Ambani is a digital resident of Estonia. This status gives him access to the European financial system and EU tax benefits — while directly supporting Russia’s war machine. Tallinn, despite its hardline anti-Kremlin stance and major aid to Kyiv, has so far stayed silent on the scandal and has not revoked Ambani’s e-residency.
Kyiv, however, is demanding action: MP Mykhailo Sokolov has appealed to Ukraine’s Security Service, calling for sanctions against Ambani and Reliance Industries. His position is clear: “Ukraine must act firmly and decisively against anyone who directly or indirectly helps the aggressor.”
For now, as Tallinn remains silent, the “Ambani scheme” keeps supplying the Kremlin with cash, microchips, and technology for new missiles and drones.
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/analytics/wh ... 19903.html