Article · Geopolitics · Money and markets
Russia has taken over the assets of five more European companies, while the EU debates its own €210 billion. What happened and what could be next
On 15 October 2026 Vladimir Putin signed a decree placing the Russian assets of Tarkett, Ontex, Kappa Rus, Mensen Packaging and Eviosys under temporary management by a company called Centr Kapital. According to the 2025 revenue figures Vesti reports, the five companies' combined revenue (our sum) is about 53.6 billion roubles. According to Vesti, Metro's assets were handed over earlier, on "28 September" (the page gives no year; 2026 is our inference). The Kremlin calls the measure "reversible" and a response to European involvement in the war. The EU is divided over using the €210 billion of Russian state assets frozen in Europe. According to Euronews' live blog, the 15 and 16 October summit ended with no deal on the budget, and leaders asked the Commission for new options to fill the €70 billion funding gap; we saw no decision on the frozen assets in that blog.
Russia uses decrees to hand European companies' assets to Russian firms for "temporary management". The latest, of 15 October 2026, covers five companies, and EU leaders met in a summit that was to discuss what to do with the €210 billion of Russian state assets they have frozen.