Russian bank executive joins Ukrainian forces in Kyiv

• Published date: 29 April 2022
• Author: BEN ZION GAD
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Volobuev, who left on March 3 — just one week after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine — said that he couldn't stay in Russia and that he "couldn't just stand by and watch what Russia is doing to [his] homeland," adding that he "wants to wash off [his] Russian past

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"The Russians were killing my father, my acquaintances and close friends. My father lived in a cold basement for a month. People I had known since childhood told me they were ashamed of me," Volobuev, who worked at Gazprom for 16 years before holding Gazprombank's top position for six years, said.

The former bank executive went on to say that the actions of the Russian President is a crime. International sanctions were imposed on Gazprombank — among several Russian banks hit with unprecedented sanctions — the day after Russia began its assault on Ukraine.

Strange circumstances for oligarchs

Russia's infamous oligarchs have become geopolitically compromised since the start of the Ukraine-Russia war. Many of Vladimir Putin's top allies in the business world, such as Roman Abramovich and Mikhail Prokhorov, have been subject to sanctions and other punitive measures – with some even speaking out against Russia's government.

While some prominent figures in Russia's business world have dealt with punitive financial measures, others have potentially met far more severe consequences. Former Vice President of Gazprombank Vladislav Avayev and former executive of natural gas company Novatek Sergey Protosenya were found dead in mid-April – along with their wives and children — in Moscow and Spain, respectively.

Russian State...