Russia to feed its troops using company seized from US
Russia is planning to feed its troops with food from a seized American company, in a move that threatens to spoil Moscow's improving relations with Washington.
Glavprodukt, a major producer of canned meat and vegetables, was brought under Kremlin control in October as the only US company in Vladimir Putin's hands.
The seizure was ordered to ensure stable production and future supplies to the Russian military, a letter from the company's new Russian management to the prosecutor general's office has revealed.
First reported by Reuters, the document states that Glavprodukt's produce would be sent to the Russian ministry of defence as well as the national guard, a militarised force that reports directly to Putin.
The company is not believed to have produced food for the Russian military while it was under US control.
It comes after Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, hinted last month that Glavprodukt's seizure would be discussed during negotiations aimed at normalising US-Russia relations.
'There are opportunities to work together, and obviously that's going to entail talking about not just Russian assets that have been seized by the Europeans or the US or what have you, but also American companies that have been hurt,' he said in an interview with Right-wing Breitbart News Network.
Following the seizure in October, the company's assets were confiscated on March 12 following a court order from the prosecutor general's office.
Russian prosecutors accused Leonid Smirnov, Glavprodukt's American owner who fled the Soviet Union in the 1970s, of moving 1.38 billion roubles (£12.8 million) out of Russia from 2022 to 2024.
Mr Smirnov described the accusations as a 'Russian-style corporate raid' and denies any wrongdoing.
The letter seen by Reuters confirmed that Glavprodukt's new Russian director was named at the request of a company called Druzhba Narodov, which formerly supplied food to the national guard.
Mr Smirnov has urged Donald Trump to help save his $200 million business, which is regarded as the Russian equivalent of Heinz.
'We basically have this company being destroyed on a daily basis,' he told the New York Post.
'I am asking president Trump to get involved and save my company, save all other American companies.'
The Moscow-based company, which employs 1,000 people across three factories, began making losses for the first time in its history after it was seized.
Mr Smirnov estimates that it has lost around 30 per cent of its value since it was taken over by the Kremlin.
Roughly a dozen companies have been placed under 'temporary management' by Russia over the past three years, but these have mostly been European.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Politico
11 minutes ago
- Politico
Bondi says violent LA protesters will face federal charges
At least nine people are facing federal charges for their involvement in protests against immigration enforcement in Los Angeles, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Monday. Demonstrators face charges for attacking police with Molotov cocktails, looting and spitting on law enforcement, Bondi said in a TV interview. 'We are going to prosecute them federally,' she said in an interview on Fox News. 'If California won't protect their law enforcement, we will protect the LAPD and the sheriff's office out there.' Sporadic but at times raucous protests broke out in several parts of the Los Angeles area in recent days, prompting President Donald Trump to deploy National Guard troops and Marines despite the fact that Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the additional forces were not needed. Bondi said the Trump administration planned to take a hard line against demonstrators. 'You spit on a federal law enforcement officer no more,' she said. 'As President Trump said, you spit. we hit. Get ready. If you spit on a federal law enforcement officer, we are going to charge you with a crime federally. You are looking at up to five years maximum in prison.' Those charged already include David Huerta, president of the Service Employees International Union California, who was injured and arrested while protesting the arrest of workers in downtown Los Angeles. He was released Monday from federal custody on a $50,000 bond. The Trump administration's decisive treatment of demonstrators — and the president's focus on punishing those who assault police officers — stands in contrast to his sweeping pardons for roughly 1,500 people who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, seeking to overturn the election. Trump has deployed up to 4,000 soldiers from the California National Guard to help quell the demonstrations over the protests of Newsom and Bass — who say the moves are worsening tensions. The state has sued to reverse the deployments. The White House also ordered 700 Marines to join the National Guard, though it's unclear exactly what role they will play. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on Monday evening that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to direct military forces to arrest 'lawbreakers.' DHS did not immediately respond to request for comment from POLITICO, and the Department of Defense declined to comment on the story. 'You can run, you can't hide,' Bondi told Fox. 'We are coming after you federally. If you assault a police officer, if you rob a store, if you loot, if you spit on a police officer, we are coming after you.'
CBS News
12 minutes ago
- CBS News
Trump administration activates 700 Marines in Los Angeles area amid ICE protests
The military has activated about 700 active-duty Marines who could be sent to Los Angeles, joining National Guard troops who were sent to the city to respond to protests, U.S. Northern Command said in a statement. Members of the Marine Corps could start arriving in the Los Angeles area as soon as Tuesday, a defense official told CBS News. The Marines are based in Twentynine Palms, a city east of Los Angeles. Northern Command said the Marines will "seamlessly integrate" with hundreds of members of the National Guard to protect "federal personnel and federal property." They have been trained in "de-escalation, crowd control and standing rules for the use of force," the military added. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also said Monday that around 700 Marines "are being deployed to Los Angeles to restore order." Northern Command said the Marines who were activated are from the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, an infantry unit based in Twentynine Palms, California, east of Los Angeles. Hegseth said the Marines are being deployed from a different base — Camp Pendleton, south of Los Angeles. When asked earlier Monday about the possibility of sending in Marines, President Trump said, "We'll see what happens." Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDowell said in a statement that the agency has decades of experience managing large-scale public demonstration and can handle the protests. "The arrival of federal military forces in Los Angeles — absent clear coordination — presents a significant logistical and operational challenge for those of us charged with safeguarding this city," he said in response to the possible deployment of Marines, adding that there needs to be open communication between all agencies to prevent confusion and avoid escalation. California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said on X earlier Monday that it does not believe the Marines have been deployed yet, writing: "From our understanding, this is moving Marines from one base to another base." Newsom suggested late Monday he could take legal action over the planned use of Marines, calling it illegal: "It's a blatant abuse of power. We will sue to stop this," he wrote on X. Mr. Trump deployed National Guard troops to downtown Los Angeles over the weekend to respond to tense protests over Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests. The Trump administration argues the deployment is necessary to protect federal property and ICE agents from violence. Mr. Trump has accused local leaders of not doing enough to deal with violent clashes at the protests. Newsom opposed the deployment, and the state of California is suing the Trump administration over what it argues is an illegal federalization of the National Guard. Some local officials have argued the deployment could aggravate an already caustic situation in downtown Los Angeles, and say state and local police agencies can handle the protests themselves. "We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved," Newsom posted on X Monday.
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pro-Ukrainian partisans destroy car used by Russian drone operators in occupied Melitopol, Atesh claims
A car used by drone operators in the Russian 64th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade was destroyed by the Atesh partisan group in occupied Melitopol overnight on June 10, the group claimed. The Atesh group says they destroyed a military vehicle which contained a "mobile electronic warfare system," claiming they temporarily "paralyzed" the work of the Russian unit. "The resistance in southern Ukraine is alive and we are increasing the pressure every day," the Atesh group said in a post to Telegram. Meanwhile, Russia conducted a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv and Odesa. One was killed, and seven were injured in both cities. In Odesa, a medical facility and maternity hospital were damaged in the Russian attack. "An incendiary mixture was used, which engulfed the car in a matter of seconds and completely destroyed it," Atesh said. The group claims they destroyed the car while it was left unguarded after studying the location and habits of the Russian crew. "This vehicle was used for covert movement and tactical missions in the south of Ukraine. Now the enemy is left without critical transport," the Atesh group said. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the group's claims. The Atesh partisan group regularly conducts sabotage attacks in Russia and Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories. Read also: Ukraine begins new major prisoner exchange with Russia We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
