L'Occitane Promotion Banner PARIS Apr 16 French cosmetics line L'Occitane has made a decision close all stores and online stores in Russia due to a Russian special operation in Ukraine, the company said in a press release. caused by the escalation of hostilities in Ukraine and in order to protect our employees around the world from potential public aggression, we have taken the decision to close stores and online shopping sites in Russia,» L'Occitane said in a statement. It is noted that the company has also suspended plans on investment and expansion in Russia. Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on 24 February. President Vladimir Putin called its goal «the protection of people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years.» For this, according to him, it is planned to carry out «demilitarization and denazification of Ukraine», to bring to justice all war criminals responsible for «bloody crimes against civilians» in Donbass. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces strike only at military infrastructure and Ukrainian troops and , on March 25, completed the main tasks of the first stage — significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal in the Russian military department was called the liberation of Donbass.
