When the war began, Russia cut off fuel supplies to Ukraine and attacked oil storage and stations. At that point, Ukraine had less than two weeks' worth of fuel.
Here's a story of a company that adapted, survived, and ensured Ukraine's essential fuel supply 1/
OKKO, now a market leader, has flourished under the new CEO Vasyl Danylyak, a personal friend of mine, guiding it through wartime transformation.
Today, at the Kyiv School of Economics we're publicly discussing for the first time the case we have written about OKKO 2/
But the story of the company is that of people
When the missiles struck on day one, OKKO's managers didn't abandon their jobs, but acted. With the Russians everywhere, they checked on their teams and prepared evacuation plans 3/
The case highlights manager Olena, who asked her colleagues, "Can I count on you?" and everyone answered yes
I still get emotional recalling those days. That type of determination was everywhere; people had families to save but wouldn't abandon their jobs 4/
But some people did flee. At Andriy's station near Kyiv, only 3 people stayed. Andriy, however, took charge of 2 sites, running between two sites through war-torn streets to oversee operations. "As we focused on our duties, customers calmed," he recalls 5/
Iryna, near the shelled Chernihiv, took charge of 4 stations, fueling the military defending the city. "We are not afraid!" she declared. Though without an official title, she led
Chernhiv later was encircled by the Russians but never fallen 6/
By keeping stations open, OKKO teams kept Ukraine moving. “That our reality now,” Oleksandra thought
Despite the risks, they served customers with positivity, still remembering - I kid you not - to say OKKO's values: "Service with a smile." 7/
Across OKKO, exceptional teams banded together, communicating constantly to adapt. Lawyers & marketers ran stations. Drivers risked their lives delivering fuel. Some died.
Everyone became everyday heroes. Later OKKO created a campaign “Our Heroes” to tell their stories 8/
I could discuss the company's strategy and changes in supply chain management, including finding new suppliers worldwide and bargaining over shipping slots to keep the country running. 9/
I witnessed oil depots attacked and oil tankers driving at night through hidden routes to evade Russian surveillance.
But I think the story is people! Thank you for being human! 10X
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
Graham: If we sell out Ukraine, Taiwan is next. If we secure guarantees that prevent a third invasion, NATO becomes bigger and stronger, and Ukraine remains free and independent.
How this war ends will shape the world for decades. 1/
Graham: I want to give Ukraine Tomahawks to hit the infrastructure Russia uses to build drones and weapons.
Change the military equation. And pass our bipartisan bill to give Trump tools to pressure countries propping up this killing machine. 2X
Graham: The “world order” you want to preserve failed. Putin invaded three times. Nothing Europe did deterred him. Nothing we did deterred him.
This is a war driven by a guy who believes Ukraine should not exist and will keep going until someone stops him. 1/
Graham: Sanctions alone have not changed Putin’s behavior. He does not care how many of his people die.
His customers must care. Without China, Brazil and India buying Russian oil, he would be out of business. 2/
Graham: If you want a normal relationship with the United States, act normal.
It is not normal to buy cheap oil from Venezuela, Iran and Russia and call yourself a responsible global citizen. China is Russia’s biggest purchaser. 3X
Blumenthal: Putin is a murderous thug. Stalin starved the Ukrainians. We know the history.
Putin is trying to freeze and murder them by bombarding them with missiles and drones. It is a crime against humanity and a time of moral clarity. 1/
Blumenthal: Europe has been at the forefront, at the tip of the spear. The coalition of the willing is stepping up resources.
The US must do more — increase industrial capacity, provide Tomahawks and Patriot interceptors, deliver sustained military aid. 2/
Blumenthal: If we show resolve, Putin’s economy cannot survive forever. He is counting on stalling and stonewalling, playing to the weakness of democracies.
Democracies are messy. We tolerate dissent. We do not lock up or silence critics. That is our strength. 3X
Zelenskyy: Ukrainians are holding the European front. Behind us stand independent Poland and the free Baltic States. There can be a sovereign Moldova and a Romania without dictatorship.
Even one Victor is growing his belly, not his army, to stop Russian tanks in Budapest. 1/
Zelenskyy: Putin doesn't live like ordinary people. He cannot imagine life without power. He consults Tsar Peter and Empress Catherine. He is a slave to war.
He won't let Ukraine or other European nations go. If he lives another 10 years, war can return. 2/
Zelenskyy: Putin hopes to repeat Munich 1938. It is an illusion to believe this war can be ended by dividing Ukraine, just as sacrificing Czechoslovakia did not save Europe.
The price of a deal must not be another moment when the civilized world shifts responsibility. 3/
The unit missed the dismount point and drove straight into Russian positions. The BMPs hit a mine barrier. Russian troops opened dense fire with mortars, grenade launchers, and assault rifles. Yaroslav Shapochka did not return from that assault. 1/
On March 21, 2023, near Soledar, Russian forces killed Yaroslav Shapochka — a journalist, photographer, and volunteer soldier in Ukraine’s 241st Territorial Defense Brigade. He was 48, Ukrainian Pravda reports. 2/
Yaroslav was born on July 8, 1974, in Kyiv. He graduated from the Institute of Journalism. He worked for the newspaper Fakty, investigated drug trafficking and the murder of Georgiy Gongadze, produced documentaries, and worked with archival materials. 3/