In a surprising turn of events, Arkady Volozh, the co-founder of Russian technology giant Yandex, has publicly condemned Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine as "barbaric." Volozh, who currently resides in Israel, expressed horror at the daily bombing of Ukrainian homes and stressed his opposition to the war.

This statement marks a departure for Volozh, who has previously faced criticism for not publicly addressing the issue. He left Yandex last year, and the company has been accused of withholding information about the war from the Russian public.

Yandex, often referred to as Russia's equivalent of Google, is the country's largest internet search engine. Volozh, 59, made it clear that despite moving to Israel in 2014, he takes responsibility for his country's actions. He acknowledged that there were reasons for his silence during the conflict but wanted to emphasize that he is against the war itself.

Volozh's stance sets him apart from other prominent Russian businessmen who have refrained from openly opposing Putin's decision to invade Ukraine. The European Union sanctioned Volozh last year for supporting actions that undermine Ukraine's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence.

EU officials also accused Yandex of promoting Russian state media and narratives, as well as suppressing content critical of the Kremlin. Volozh's decision to speak out against the war aligns with his previous clashes with the Russian government and his resignation from Yandex. Yandex has faced challenges since the beginning of the conflict, with many employees leaving the country.

The company did not provide a comment in response to Volozh's statement. The escalating control exerted by Russian authorities over the internet has caused concerns about freedom of speech in the country. Major media organizations are either state-owned or closely aligned with the Kremlin's agenda. Volozh concluded his statement by expressing his support for the talented Russian engineers who have left the country.

He sees them as valuable assets for the nations they now reside in and believes they will continue to drive technological innovation. This public condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine by a prominent Russian businessman adds a significant voice to the chorus of international condemnation. Volozh's words carry weight due to his previous leadership at Yandex and his personal experiences as a co-founder of one of Russia's most successful technology companies.