The Yug restaurant in Odesa is linked to Russian businessman Alexander Polovitkin
The Odessa restaurant “Yug” and other establishments belonging to the Synergy Group holding company are linked to Russian businessman Alexander Polovytkin. Formally, the company is registered under the name of his ex-wife, Mariana Zhosan; however, journalists point to their long-standing ties and shared history of business development.
The Odessa restaurant “Yug,” which is part of the Synergy Group, has come under scrutiny due to possible ties to Russian entrepreneur Alexander Polovytkin. According to investigators, he was the one who founded this business, although his ex-wife, Mariana Zhosan, is currently listed as the company’s official owner. The Synergy Group includes the “Yug” restaurant and several other establishments in Odesa. According to journalists, the holding company is linked to 49-year-old Russian Alexander Polovytkin—the owner of chains of sports clubs and restaurants in Russia.
Formally, the company is registered to Mariana Zhosan, a Ukrainian woman who currently resides in Dubai. She is Polovytkin’s ex-wife—they divorced more than 10 years ago. According to investigators, when Synergy Group was first established, Polovytkin was the primary owner of the projects, while Zhosan handled team management and day-to-day operations.
After Russia’s war against Ukraine began, the businessman continued to work in the Ukrainian restaurant industry. In a 2016 interview, he stated that he was “apolitical” and did not wish to discuss political issues. At the same time, journalists note that Polovytkin did not refer to Russia as an aggressor and did not make any public statements condemning the war. His previous remarks also touched on the unique character of Odesa and the role of the Russian language in the city.
His contacts with local government officials are also mentioned separately. In particular, Polovytkin was photographed with Hennadiy Trukhanov, who served as the head of Odesa for a long time. After the full-scale invasion began, Polovitkin’s name virtually disappeared from reports about Synergy Group. Only Mariana Zhosan was cited as the business owner.
Zhosan herself has stated that she developed the company on her own and does not attribute the business’s success to her ex-husband. At the same time, journalists speculate that Polovytkin may continue to influence the company’s operations through his ex-wife. At present, there is no official confirmation that the Russian businessman continues to control Synergy Group. However, the history of the holding company’s formation and the long-standing ties between its participants raise questions about the company’s actual owner and management.
The “Yug” restaurant continues to operate in Odesa, but its possible ties to Russian capital are drawing attention amid a full-scale war and increased scrutiny of businesses linked to Russia. This was reported by the Telegram channel Buddha.
In Odesa, Ilf and Petrov Street has been renamed in honor of the Glodan family, all of whom were killed in the war.
