Due to state inaction, assets of Russian businessman worth one billion hryvnias were not confiscated and passed into private hands – investigation

23 October 15:20

Despite the NSDC’s sanctions, the assets of businessman Igor Naumets, a Russian citizen, were sold and transferred to new owners. And the Ukrainian authorities lost the opportunity to confiscate assets worth more than a billion hryvnias. This is stated in an investigation by Radio Liberty, according to Komersant UkrainianKomersant Ukrainian

Russian business in Ukraine: what did Igor Naumets own?

Ihor Naumets is the owner of the Ukrainian holding Unigran, which includes enterprises for the extraction of sand and gravel, production of construction materials and explosives for industrial purposes. His business was concentrated in the Zhytomyr and Kyiv regions, where the companies owned several large quarries.

A Russian citizen, Naumets had close ties with Russian structures and the occupation administrations of Crimea. For a long time, he traded Ukrainian construction materials with Russia and even provided materials to Russian state structures, in particular those involved in construction for the Russian Ministry of Defence. His companies, as it became known from the reports, sold materials used for the construction of military infrastructure in Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

Arrest and sanctions: how the state failed to confiscate billions of dollars in assets

In 2022, Ukrainian law enforcement announced the seizure of Naumets’ assets worth more than a billion hryvnias. However, despite the seizure and the sanctions imposed on him and his companies by the National Security and Defence Council, the state failed to confiscate these assets. After a lengthy legal process, including a ruling by the Pechersk Court presided over by Judge Serhiy Vovk, the arrest was lifted. The judge argued that there were no grounds for the state to interfere with the ownership of Naumets’ property.

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Asset transfer scheme: sale through intermediary companies

After the seizure of Unigran’s assets was lifted, Naumets’ businesses were quickly transferred to other parties, despite the sanctions. Three newly created companies played a key role in this: “Uni Stone Plenty, Uni Lux and Uni Service, owned by Serhiy Shapran, a former member of the Brovary City Council and businessman. The assets were sold through intermediary firms at reduced prices. For example, the Granemit explosives plant was sold for UAH 10 million, while its market value is much higher. A locomotive depot, buildings, sidings and a carriage fleet were also sold for a paltry sum of less than UAH 900,000.

Subsequently, these assets became the property of Shapran’s companies, and now they operate under the USP brand. The holding’s equipment continues to operate in the Zhytomyr region, where the quarries are located, albeit under a new name.

Who is Sergey Shapran?

Sergey Shapran is an entrepreneur associated with more than two dozen companies in various fields: from explosives production to real estate purchase and sale. He came to public attention due to scandals with undeclared property and ownership of one of the most expensive yachts on the Dnipro River. He is also associated with the For the Future party, which is associated with Ihor Kolomoisky.

Despite his claims that he had no contact with Naumets, Skhemy journalists obtained a memorandum signed by Shapran and Naumets in 2022. According to this document, Shapran promised to solve Naumets’ problems with the confiscation of his assets, receiving a share in the business in return.

Was Oleg Kiper involved?

In the course of the investigation, journalists drew attention to another key figure – Oleh Kiper, the current head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration and former chief prosecutor of Kyiv. All three companies that acquired Naumets’ assets were registered at the same address in Kyiv, which had previously been reported in the media as the target of a raider attack involving Kiper. In addition, in the telephone contacts of Vladimir Osipov, who is close to Shapran, Kiper is mentioned as his godfather.

Journalists tried to get comments from Kiper on his possible involvement in this case, but he refused to answer questions. His press service only said that Kiper knew Osipov, but did not interfere in his business activities.

Implications for the state

This story calls into question the effectiveness of Ukraine’s sanctions system. Although sanctions against Naumets and his companies have been in place since 2022, his assets have not been confiscated. Instead, through court decisions and fraudulent intermediaries, these assets were transferred to private companies. The government has not received over a billion hryvnias that could have been used to support the army during the war.

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Остафійчук Ярослав
Editor