Storonsky also claims his company would match up to £1.5 million (US$2 million) in donations to the Red Cross Ukraine appeal.
Storonsky, 37, grew up in Russia but is of partial Ukrainian descent.
Nik Storonsky holds dual U.K.-Russia citizenship. Revolut cofounder and Chief Technology Officer Vlad Yatsenko, 38, is Ukrainian and holds dual U.K.-Ukraine citizenship.
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From March 4, Revolut no longer supports transfers to or from entities in Russia and Belarus.
Revolut has some of its more than 2,150 staff based in both Russia and Ukraine, and Storonsky said that he had to consider the wellbeing of those based in Russia before making any statement on the conflict.
“They have done nothing wrong; they have simply helped build Revolut, supporting their own families through their hard work, just like their colleagues in Ukraine (or London or New York or Sydney or Mumbai, or anywhere else in the world where our people are based). I was, and remain, mindful of them in all of my actions,” he said.
“When I was growing up, the notion of war between Russia and Ukraine was unthinkable. Not just because war, and the loss of innocent lives, is always wrong, but because to me, Ukrainians and Russians are kin. I know this because, when Vladyslav and I founded Revolut in London, it did not matter where we came from. It felt like we were two brothers with a purpose and a big vision.”
“And today, it still does. Because even though I came from Russia and I’m now a British citizen, by descent I am also Ukrainian. My father is Ukrainian. I have family and friends throughout Ukraine – people who I care about deeply, and about whom I am enormously concerned.”
“So, for me, as for so many, the idea of a war between Russia and Ukraine is not just horrifying, it is almost impossible to believe. As recently as last week, I was still convinced that a diplomatic solution would be reached, and it was with complete disbelief and sadness that I looked on at the violence of this past week.”
