"Army of Russia" brand to shut all stores amid financial struggles

The iconic Russian casualwear brand "Army of Russia" is set to close all 35 of its retail outlets, with remaining inventories—including belts, military rations, khaki trousers, and other merchandise—being sold off at inflated prices.

Journalistic sources attribute the closures to the products’ persistent “unprofitability,” leading to the cessation of operations at stores located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, and Engels. Alongside the retail shutdown, production and the development of new collections have been discontinued, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The flagship store, situated opposite the US Embassy on Novinsky Boulevard in Moscow, has already removed its signage, symbolizing the brand’s imminent exit from the market.

“Army of Russia” holds the distinction of being the first Russian clothing brand to fuse casual fashion with a distinct military aesthetic. The label was managed by AO “Voentorg” until this March, when its licensing agreement with the Ministry of Defence expired.

In a related legal matter, Vladimir Pavlov, the head of “Voentorg”, has been under criminal investigation since summer 2024 for allegedly embezzling 400 million rubles ($4,7 million) through government contracts related to military supplies. In July, a court extended his detention amid ongoing proceedings.

By Vafa Guliyeva