Ukraine's richest man condemns Russia's crimes against humanity

“What is happening here is a war crime and a crime against humanity, against Ukraine and the Ukrainians,” Ahmetov told Forbes Ukraine.

“This cannot be explained or justified,” Ahmetov said when asked why Russian troops were attacking civilians and firing artillery on residential areas.

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Ahmetov said victory for Ukraine would mean a return to the country’s pre-Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and began supporting separatists in Donbass.

“A complete ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, and the complete rebuilding of Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders. This includes Crimea and the Donbass,” Ahmetov said.

With $ 5.5 billion in wealth, Ahmetov ranks 327th in the world’s wealthiest people. He has been president of the Shahtar Donetsk football team since 1996, and the company he founded, SCM Holdings, specializes in steel production, energy, coal mining and metallurgy.

Ahmetov has been the main financial sponsor of pro-Russian former President Viktor Yanukovych’s Party of Regions for many years.

Ahmetov praised the “Western World Joint Action on an unprecedented scale” in support of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion on February 24.

“[Krievijas prezidents Vladimirs] Putin is fighting against countries that have democracy, freedom and independence. So all the countries in the free world are potential targets. “If Ukraine and you fail to stop him, no one knows who will be next,” Ahmetov warned.

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“During the war, our company is operating properly. Now our main goal is to help Ukrainians survive and survive,” said Ahmetov about his activities in Ukraine.

Ahmetov had announced his return to his homeland after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the rich of Ukraine to be united in mid-February before the Russian invasion.

Ahmetov said he was still in Ukraine and had not been in contact with Russia’s rich since the start of the war.