A businesswoman who ran Russian companies in the occupied Luhansk region was exposed in Kyiv

Law enforcement officials have exposed a Kyiv resident who, according to the investigation, owned three Russian companies that continued to operate in the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk Oblast.

The woman and her accomplice from Luhansk Oblast have been charged with possible collaboration with the invaders and conducting activities in the interests of the occupying authorities. Investigative proceedings are currently underway to establish all the circumstances of the case.

“The Security Service has exposed the owner of several Russian companies in Kyiv that operated in the temporarily occupied Luhansk region. These enterprises operated in the interests of the occupying authorities and paid taxes to the budget of the aggressor state. According to the investigation, during the Yanukovych era, the suspect was part of the inner circle of the “Party of Regions” officials who headed the Luhansk region. Since then, she has owned a number of commercial assets in Luhansk, primarily engaged in real estate transactions,” the statement reads.

It is noted that the suspect has been living in Kyiv in recent years but has not lost control over her companies. To this end, she appointed her business partner—who remained in occupied Luhansk and interacted with the occupying administration—as the head of the companies.

The suspects re-registered three of their companies under Russian law, after which they began operating in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation. The companies complied with all requirements of the occupying authorities and paid taxes, fees, and insurance premiums to the budget of the aggressor state.

It is alleged that the owner received profits from the companies’ operations through illegal cryptocurrency transactions. It has been documented that in 2023–2024 alone, she received more than 415,000 U.S. dollars in cryptocurrency equivalent.

Based on the evidence gathered, SBU investigators notified both suspects of their suspicion under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 4 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (conducting business activities in collaboration with an aggressor state and illegal authorities, committed by a group of persons acting in concert).

The business owner was served with the notice of suspicion in Kyiv. The issue of selecting a preventive measure for her is currently being decided. Her accomplice, who is located in the temporarily occupied territory, was notified of the suspicion in absentia.

Comprehensive investigative measures were carried out by officers of the SBU Main Directorate in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions under the procedural guidance of the Luhansk Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

This was reported on Facebook by the SBU Directorate in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

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