The parent company of Japanese casualwear giant Uniqlo defended a decision to keep Russian stores open even.
Tadashi Yanai, president of Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing, said the conflict in Ukraine should not deprive people in Russia of clothing, a basic human need.
"Clothing is a necessity of life. The people of Russia have the same right to live as we do," Yanai said.
There are 49 Uniqlo stores in Russia. A Fast Retailing spokesman said the company would "continue to monitor the situation" but there were "no plans as of now to suspend our operations."
Fast Retailing said on Friday it would donate $10 million and 200,000 items of clothing to the UN refugee agency to support people forced to flee in Ukraine and neighboring countries.
