‘Zelensky Vodka’ project fails

The company that launched the product, aimed at raising funds for Ukraine, has gone bust

The project that launched a vodka named after Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky has failed, Russian news outlet Octagon has reported. The Swiss-based startup aimed to raise funds for Kiev, but sales in Europe and the US proved disappointing.

Authorities in Switzerland decided last September to dissolve the company operating the Zelensky Vodka brand, according to an entry in the commercial register of the Canton of Zug. DrinkForPeace AG is to be liquidated in accordance with the provisions on bankruptcy, the entry states.

Octagon reported that DrinkForPeace had reached an agreement with authorities to suspend the dissolution process as it tries to sell leftover stock.

The brand was launched in March 2022, shortly after years-long Russia-Ukraine tensions erupted into military confrontation, by Swiss entrepreneur Tobias Reichmuth and Ukrainian fashion designer Anastasiia Rosinina. Among the founders were Swiss manager Georgia von Gleichen and start-up entrepreneur Matthias Zwingel.

The bottle of Zelensky vodka featured a silhouette of Ukraine’s president in front of the country’s blue and yellow flag, along with the slogan ‘Help Ukraine’ and hashtag “drink for peace.” The beverage was said to be of premium wheat-based quality, made and distilled in Germany and Switzerland.

#drinkforpeace