8.6 C
New York
Monday, March 20, 2023
Home Challanger banks Nik Storonsky, CEO Revolut, has publicly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Nik Storonsky, CEO Revolut, has publicly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine

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.

Read also: Bunq wants to receive refugees from Ukraine

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.”

Jan Cerny
Jan is an innovation enthusiast and Fintech news reporter. He specializes in news distribution, social media, and content analysis.

Recent posts

Challenger Banks: Disrupting the Status Quo in Retail Banking

In this blog, we will explore the state of retail banking, the different types of challenger banks, and the attractions of digital challenger banks.

Parker: The First Charge Card for E-commerce with Raised Limits

Parker, a fintech startup co-founded by Yacine Sibous and Milan Ray, has recently emerged from stealth with $157 million in equity and debt funding.

Credit Suisse Struggles to Keep Clients as Overhaul Continues

Credit Suisse Group AG won a $54bn lifeline on Thursday 16 March, giving it the chance to rebuild its business.

Swiss Regulators Step in to Reassure Markets Amid Credit Suisse Turmoil

The global financial markets were rattled on Wednesday following fresh fears about the viability of Credit Suisse.