Panic buying in Russian Ikea stores as Swedish retailer announces closure
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Russian customers have flocked to Ikea stores to panic buy furniture and homewares before the retail chain shuts up shop.
The Swedish giant announced yesterday that it would be closing all stores in Russia and Belarus in protest of the invasion of Ukraine.
Massive queues formed outside of their store in St Petersburg before it opened for the last time yesterday.
LIVE UPDATES: Russian forces close in on key cities
© AP A woman in St Petersburg stocks up on coffee cups at Ikea.
Shoppers were seen loading up their trolleys with trays of coffee cups and boxes of flat-pack furniture.
An Ikea statement spoke of the war in Ukraine as they announced their "pause" on retail.
READ MORE: France warns 'worst yet to come' in Ukraine conflict
© AP Massive queues outside an Ikea in Russia before it opens for the last time.
"The devastating war in Ukraine is a human tragedy, and our deepest empathy and concerns are with the millions of people impacted," the statement read.
"The immediate actions of Inter Ikea Group and Ingka Group have been to support the personal safety and security of Ikea co-workers and their families, and we will continue to do so."
Ikea also announced it would pause all Ikea Industry production in Russia.
Overnight Volkswagen also announced it would halt all activities in Russia until further notice.
Volkswagen has two major factories in Russia which will be shut down.
Volkswagen will also stop importing cars into Russia.
READ MORE: Russians besiege Ukrainian ports as armoured column stalls
© AP Queues for the checkout at an Ikea in St Petersburg ahead of the store shutting down.
Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Harley Davidson have also stopped imports into Russia, while Renault is shutting down its Moscow plant.
Apple and Dell have also suspended sales in Russia.
Russian currency continues to drop, with each ruble now worth barely one Australian cent.
In time of crisis, some panic buy toilet paper (yeah, we've all been there) some panic buy food and medicine. The Russian is taking it into the next level - Flat Pack Furniture....Forget about asking NATO to get off their border, they probably should ask IKEA to stay in their border...