Cherkasy chemical plant traded with Russia through a shell company during a full-scale war
22 January 15:43
The Security Service of Ukraine has served a notice of suspicion to the head of a Cherkasy chemical company who could have sold Ukrainian products to Russia during a full-scale war. This was reported by Komersant ukrainskyi with reference to the SBU and the Prosecutor General’s Office.
According to the investigation, the chemical plant, despite the ban on exports to Russia, has established wholesale supplies of paint to protect crops and increase yields. From 2022 to 2024, the company supplied $1.8 million worth of its own products to Russia.
Investigators noted that to circumvent the ban on trade with the enemy, the company used a foreign company to which it allegedly sold its own products. And from this company, the goods were shipped to Russia.
The suspects used anonymous messenger chats and e-mail to discuss illegal deliveries and continue their underground business.
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“During the searches of the suspects’ places of work and residence, the SBU found documents, mobile phones and computer equipment with evidence of the fraud. SBU investigators served the head of the Cherkasy company a notice of suspicion under Part 1 of Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – aiding the aggressor state. The investigation is ongoing to bring to justice all participants in the scheme,” the statement said.
Law enforcement officers also found out that before the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian company had been trading with Russia without intermediaries. Involvement of a foreign company was just a way to circumvent the ban on trade with the aggressor state, they noted.
Among the customers were some of the largest companies in the Russian agro-industrial complex – Shchelkovo Agrokhim and Alterit.
The head of the company was served a notice of suspicion of aiding the aggressor state and taken into custody with the right to be released on bail in the amount of UAH 1.2 million. He faces 10 to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property and deprivation of the right to engage in certain activities for up to 15 years.
