March 31, 2022
-National Post
U.S. tobacco giant Philip Morris has given away 500,000 packs of cigarettes to the Ukrainian army, said People’s Deputy of Ukraine Danylo Hetmantsev.
“Philip Morris donated 500,000 packs of cigarettes to help the army!” Hetmantsev wrote on Telegram. “Lviv Tobacco Factory and JT International Ukraine also handed over cigarettes to the military today in all regions where there are logistics warehouses.”
The tobacco company said it’s working on options for leaving the Russian market, joining scores of multinationals that are scaling back operations in the country after its invasion of Ukraine.
Philip Morris International Inc. has already reduced manufacturing operations, suspended marketing and cancelled product launches in Russia.
“Our focus and all our efforts over the last four weeks have been to ensure the safety and security of our Ukrainian colleagues,” Chief Executive Officer Jacek Olczak said in the statement. “We stand in solidarity with the innocent men, women and children who are suffering.”
