President Vladimir Putin expanded Russia’s takeover of Japan Tobacco Inc.’s domestic operations by placing three additional Japan Tobacco International units under the temporary management of JSC Industrial Assets. The follow-up decree expands an earlier order covering four JTI businesses, including cigarette factories in St. Petersburg and Rostov-on-Don and tobacco-processing facilities in the Lipetsk and Leningrad regions. The newly added companies are described as import, management and holding entities, including a holding company linked to a previously seized facility, a tobacco sales and distribution arm, and a company handling the import and marketing of heated-tobacco devices. JTI said it was assessing the decision and its options while prioritizing employees and other stakeholders. Industrial Assets said it would seek to maintain production, retain existing teams and meet obligations to employees and business partners. The decrees gave no reason for the move, which fits a broader Russian policy of taking control of assets owned by companies from countries designated as unfriendly. JTI has operated in Russia since 1999, sells brands including Winston and Camel, holds about 40% of the domestic cigarette market by volume and employs roughly 4,000 people there. Russia contributes about 10% of Japan Tobacco Group’s revenue and approximately 25% of its operating profit, while Japan’s government owns around 37% of Japan Tobacco Inc. shares.