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
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Despite a 25% U.S. tariff on Indian exports Modi refuses to stop buying Russian oil. Russian crude now makes up one-third of India’s total imports.
Bloomberg: No stop order has been issued to refiners. Purchases remain commercial.
1/
Modi responded to pressure: Whatever we buy, we’ll buy what’s made by the sweat of an Indian.
The message: domestic self-reliance over foreign pressure.
This comes as India joins BRICS and deepens its ties with Russia.
2/
Trump escalates.
He accuses India of “cheating” on trade and immigration.
Stephen Miller (Trump’s deputy chief): India imposes massive tariffs, buys as much Russian oil as China, and games the U.S. visa system. Everything is on the table.
3/
In 2022, Russians captured combat medic Yuliia Paievska.
The Guardian: In her cell, she used plaster to scratch poems on the wall. It pulled her out of the abyss.
This summer, she read her poems publicly for the first time — in Kharkiv, where Russian missiles strike nightly. 1/
Publisher Meridian Czernowitz organized the festival to support culture in wartime Kharkiv. it took place in an underground venue.
Cultural events in Kharkiv now operate below ground — theatres, readings, book launches. Missiles often land before sirens can warn. 2/
Poet and filmmaker Iryna Tsilyk read about daily life in wartime Kyiv — shopping for wine, comforting a child, and hiding from missiles in one afternoon. 3/
Trump on India: We settled on 25% [tariffs], but I'm gonna raise that very substantially over the next 24 hours. India is fuelling Russia’s war machine. 1/
Trump on NATO: They [leaders] do whatever I want. 2/
Q: Are you going to run again?
Trump: No. But I'd like to. I have the best poll numbers I ever had.
Q: Among Republicans. Your haters cite polls that have you down in the 30s.
Trump: They're fake polls. You also have me in the 70s.