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
Eric Schmidt for FT: Ukraine’s no man’s land is the future of war.
After 4 years of full-scale invasion, frontline positions sit under constant drone surveillance. In 2025, Russia seized less than 1% of Ukrainian territory. Almost anything that moves is detected and struck. 1/
Schmidt: The odds of being killed by drones for advancing Russian units are about 1 in 3.
Yet Moscow keeps pushing, absorbing 30,000-35,000 killed or seriously wounded per month, by Ukrainian estimates. Attrition alone may not break Russia. 2/
Russia adapts.
Fibre-optic drones immune to jamming strike trenches and forests. Jet-powered Shaheds are in development. Moscow aims to launch up to 1,000 Shaheds per day in 2026. 3/
2007 Putin in Munich: NATO is a threat to Europe's security, not me! [Also, black is white.]
Putin: NATO expansion has nothing to do with modernization or European security.
It is a serious provocation that reduces mutual trust. Against whom is this expansion directed? 1/
Putin: Why must we bomb and shoot at every opportunity?
There was a peaceful transition to democracy in our country. A peaceful transformation of the Soviet regime, including nuclear weapons. Why do we lack respect for law? 2/
Putin: After the Cold War, a unipolar model was proposed. What is a unipolar world?
One center of power. One center of force. One master, one sovereign. It is destructive and has nothing in common with democracy. 3/
Rubio: Ukraine deserves a lot of credit, they fought bravely.
But without U.S. support, they likely would not have survived the first days of the war.
Billions in American aid came even before the war started. Javelin missiles disabled Russian tanks. 1/
Rubio: No one is “winning” in Ukraine. Russia is losing 7–8,000 soldiers a week. Not wounded, dead.
Ukraine has suffered massive damage, including repeated strikes on its energy infrastructure. Both sides are taking heavy damage. 2/
Rubio: Russia cannot achieve its initial objectives in this war in Ukraine.
The conflict has narrowed to its attempt to take 20% of Donetsk it does not currently control. That would be a hard concession for Ukraine tactically and politically. 3/