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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FBI Director Nominee Kash Patel was paid $25,000 by Global Tree Pictures, owned by Russian Igor Lopatonok.
The company produced anti-Western “deep state” content. Lopatonok’s projects were funded in part by a Putin-created fund for pro-Russian influence campaigns — WP. 1/
Kash Patel was paid $25,000 for the series All the President's Men on Tucker Carlson’s network, where he vowed to “shut down” FBI HQ.
Critics warn he took Kremlin-linked money while poised to lead counterespionage. 2/
Patel’s spokesperson said he disclosed all income, with OGE and DOJ approving filings. Sen. Grassley called criticism a “smear campaign.”
Senate Judiciary Committee delayed a vote on Patel’s FBI Director nomination after Democrats raised objections. 3/
For the first time ever, Trump administration approved Ukraine arms packages under the new PURL program, Reuters.
Undersec. Elbridge Colby cleared up to two $500M shipments from U.S. stocks. Ukrainian allies pay, Ukraine gets kit. Target: up to $10B in allied-funded weapons. 1/
What’s in it: air-defense systems and other gear Ukraine asked for, as Russia ramps drone and missile strikes.
Trump frustrated by Moscow’s attacks despite talks, greenlit the PURL push. 2/
This is the 1st new weapons flow beyond Biden-era donations or direct sales.
Under PURL, NATO countries buy from U.S. stocks, Washington ships fast. 3X
That’s horrible to death. Two 13-year-old brothers weighing only 8.5 kg each were found bedridden in frontline Pokrovsk.
They survived over a year under the care of their 10-year-old brother, Platón, after their grandmother's death, Ukrainska Pravda reports. 1/
The boys have severe genetic condition lissencephaly type 1, causing neurological disorders, epilepsy, and protein-energy deficiency - they cannot move and need constant care. 2/
10-year-old Platón fed, watered, lifted his brothers, cleaned around them, and carried them to basement during shelling for over a year without adult supervision. 3/
Lavrov: The Americans came to understand that the people who, in protest against the oppressive Nazi regime, voted in referendums to join — to return to — the Russian Federation will never again live under the yoke of the current Kyiv authorities.
1/
Lavrov: The Russian army never targets civilian infrastructure or the population. For every accusation, we ask: where is the proof, where are the facts? As for fakes accusing our army of crimes, they later turned out to be committed by the Ukrainian regime. 2/
Lavrov: When blatant violations of international humanitarian law can’t be denied, the UN Secretariat timidly issues impersonal calls for restraint — to both sides. We saw the same reaction when it was clear how inhumanly the “Nazi formations” of Kyiv acted.