Despite numerous western companies exiting the Russian market amidst the Russia-Ukraine war, French sports and leisure goods conglomerate Decathlon continued to supply clothing to its Russian client Desport, through a 'shell company' in Dubai.

Decathlon supplied Kalenji jogging jackets, Wedze ski jackets, Quechua pants and shoes worth $12 million to the Russian company. The company airlifted these clothing items from their factory in Bangladesh, where they were by an intermediary company. 

Owner of Decathlon, the Mulliez Group, remains one of the few French companies to maintain its operations in Russia. Most of the company’s operations are concentrated in Auchan, which generates over 10 per cent of its sales. 

Despite the suspension of commercial activities in its Russian stores and online site a few after the commencement of the Russia-Ukraine war, Decathlon secured permissions from the local authorities to sell its products in 36 stores owned by a Russian entity named ARM.

The goods were procured by Decathlon from it Asian suppliers and purchased by a subsidiary based in Singapore who transshipped the goods via Dubai