Yanukovych’s son profits from selling coal from occupied territories to “respectable” European countries
Oleksandr Yanukovych, the son of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych – who, like his father, currently resides in Russia – earns billions of rubles through companies close to him by selling coal from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
This was reported in an investigation by "Important Stories" (Vazhnie Istorii), cited by Deutsche Welle.
Journalists discovered that in 2023–2024, entities linked to Yanukovych Jr. exported nearly half a million tons of coal from Russia. Payments for the raw material were transferred to an offshore account in the British Virgin Islands, while the coal itself was shipped to Turkey and other countries.
Until 2022, the buyers of coal from "Energoresurs" included Bulgaria, Estonia, Czechia, and Romania. Between 2021 and 2023, the company generated 3.5 billion rubles in revenue, according to journalists' calculations.
The key element in the scheme is "Energoresurs," a company registered in Rostov-on-Don, which receives coal for export from firms in Donetsk Oblast, according to investigators.
Among its suppliers are believed to be: Trading House "Donskie Ugli", RTK "Vostokugol", Mines "Komsomolets Donbassa," "Zhdanovskaya," "Impex-Don," and others.
The official owner and director of "Energoresurs" are listed as Oleksandr Yanukovych’s former subordinates – Oleksii Ivanov and Pavlo Zemliakov.
Ivanov worked in various legal companies associated with Yanukovych Jr.
Zemliakov was employed at the Donbas Settlement and Financial Center, which Ukrainian media have also linked to the ex-president’s son.
In 2023, "Energoresurs" received a $7 million loan at 1% annual interest from the Cypriot company Sl Holdings Limited, owned by another of Yanukovych’s subordinates from the "MAKO" holding, Eduard Slynko.
Due to EU sanctions, in the past three years, "Energoresurs" coal has primarily been shipped to Turkey, transported via rail and sea. The recipient is Energy Union, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands.
"Energoresurs" sells coal to Energy Union at a modest price – an average of 5,700 rubles per ton in 2024.
"The low price allows them to save on export duties, and then Energy Union can sell it anywhere, at any price. This scheme only makes sense if these companies are affiliated," the investigation states.
Background. Meanwhile, as a reminder, journalists recently investigated who was behind the assassination of former Yanukovych associate Armen Sarkisyan in Moscow.