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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War in Ukraine is Putin’s personal project. Once he’s gone, Russia can return to coexistence with the West, Russian journalist Gabuev in Foreign Affairs. 1/
Gabuev: over 800,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded. The Kremlin pays families up to $80,000 per casualty. Soldiers now earn twice the national average.
[So, war is well institutionalized] 2/
Gabuev: officials are promoted for work in occupied territories. Security officers advance by prosecuting antiwar activists. Civilian bureaucrats pursue careers through military channels.
US softens demand for Ukraine to repay past aid through minerals deal, — Bloomberg.
The US backed down again, lowering its claim from $300B to $100B, closer to Ukraine’s estimate of $90B. Kyiv firmly rejects recognizing past aid as debt. 0/
New talks anchor around the reduced $90-100B figure. The US demands no cash but seeks priority claims on future Ukrainian revenues — oil, gas, rare earths, ports, roads — channeled into a Washington-controlled reconstruction fund. 1/
Ukraine refuses to classify past aid as loans. Negotiations continue. Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko: A memorandum of intent is signed; Kyiv has sent its counterproposal. 2/
His core team - Chief of Staff, Senior adviser, Deputy Chief of Staff, and the Deputy secretary’s Chief of Staff - were fired this Friday
A senior defense official calls it a “complete meltdown” after February’s purge of top generals.
1/
Joe Kasper, Chief of Staff to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who initiated the internal leak probe in March.
The investigation targeted disclosures about U.S. carrier movement, Panama Canal operations, Ukraine intelligence pauses, and Elon Musk’s Pentagon visit.
2/
Two of the dismissed advisers — Selnick (Deputy Chief of Staff) and Carroll (Chief of Staff to Deputy Defense Secretary) — plan to sue the Department of Defense for wrongful termination.
All four officials, including Kasper, declined to comment publicly.
3/
The Telegraph: UK Backs German Taurus Missile Delivery. Britain says they will back Merz up if he decides to move on. 1/
On April 17, a UK foreign policy official told The Telegraph: We continue to work with our partners, including Germany, to equip Ukraine as best we can.
The UK has long been in favour of Germany delivering Taurus missiles and would support the decision under Merz. 2/
Merz supports delivery of Taurus—but only if France and Britain agree. His coalition partner, the SPD, resists.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, expected to remain in the new government, opposes sending Taurus missiles. 3/
Russia isn't negotiating in good faith. It's arming with help from China, Iran, and North Korea. If the U.S. walks away from Ukraine, it will resist and stand, but many more people will die.
Here's what I told CNN, and why the West can't afford to drop Ukraine. 0/
Q: Rubio said “we need to move on” from ending the war. Is the U.S. giving up?
Me: I hope not. But it shows they see Putin isn’t serious – he rejected a ceasefire, made extreme demands, then bombed Ukrainian cities right after talks with the U.S. 1/
Q: If the U.S. walks away, is that a win for Russia?
Me: At the end of the day, yes – it would be a win for Russia. But Ukraine’s fate isn’t decided in capitals – it’s decided by its people. We stood when Russia reached Kyiv. It’ll be hard, but not like those first days. 2/
Rubio says the U.S. is ready to quit peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
I think it is clear that Ukraine wants peace, Russia doesn’t. Rubio says both sides should be serious. But Ukraine is, right? 1/
Rubio: The U.S. will see within days whether the war can be ended. The U.S. is ready to help resolve, if both sides are serious about peace, if they’re not, we have other things to do. 2/
Rubio about security guarantees for Ukraine: I think we have bigger challenges. This war has no military solutions to end it. 3/