John Lewis removes Russian matryoshka from sale after Ukrainian woman's complaint

Chain's response to citizen's appeal

British department store chain John Lewis has decided to remove a Russian matryoshka from its assortment, which was offered to customers as part of the 2026 Christmas collection. The price of this souvenir was 8 pounds sterling.

Circumstances of the appeal

The initiator of the assortment change was Ukrainian citizen Tetyana Zakalyuzhna. She submitted an official complaint to the company and maintained correspondence with John Lewis representatives for several weeks.

In her appeal, the woman noted that she has been unable to return to her homeland for five years due to the ongoing war. She also emphasised that her husband has been on the front line, defending Ukraine, since February 2022.

Arguments and outcome of the dialogue

In her letter, Tetyana Zakalyuzhna reminded the company of the killings of Ukrainian children, supporting her words with references to British media materials and reports from the United Nations.

The result of this communication was the company's decision. On 11 November, John Lewis representatives informed the complainant that the matryoshka was no longer available for sale.