Mykolaiv region exposes grain export scheme worth $2 million

In Mykolaiv region, law enforcement officers uncovered an extensive scheme in which agricultural products were registered for millions of dollars through fake agreements with Turkish companies. The money was transferred abroad through a network of intermediaries, while some of the goods existed only on paper and did not actually arrive in Ukraine.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations with reference to the decision of the Central District Court of Mykolaiv.

Law enforcement officers uncovered a large-scale scheme to withdraw money abroad under the guise of exporting agricultural products. According to the investigation, officials of one of the enterprises used controlled Turkish and Ukrainian companies - including Chernihiv Industrial Milk Company, Prodektio, Aravis Trade and others - to formalize fictitious transactions totaling more than $2 million.

The organizer coordinated the entire scheme: from procurement and paperwork to logistics and concealment of the actual volume of products. In August-December 2023, more than $2 million worth of products were exported through fictitious intermediaries. The real value of the goods exceeded 264 million hryvnias, but only about 52.7 million were officially reported. Most of the purchases were made for cash without documents, which allowed them to hide 211 million hryvnias of profit and avoid paying more than 38 million hryvnias in taxes.

Some agreements with Turkish firms concerned the supply of equipment, allegedly for the modernization of an elevator. Some equipment existed only on paper, and the prices in the invoices were overstated by 30-45%. For example, the company paid $380,000 for a grain drying line, although its real market value in the EU and Turkey is about half that.

Participants in the scheme forged documents on the origin of products using the details of the Chernihiv Industrial Dairy Company, which did not actually produce the specified volumes. Another group was responsible for logistics, transportation and loading of goods in ports, as well as communication with foreign buyers.

The foreign currency earnings were not returned to Ukraine: the money was deposited in the accounts of foreign companies or returned to the organizers as a "reward". The suspects include two former managers of the elevator and several intermediaries.

Law enforcement officers have already seized documents and correspondence. They are conducting a financial and economic examination of the contracts, and may serve suspicion notices to the former director, accountant, and other accomplice. The case is being investigated as embezzlement on a particularly large scale and forgery.

Additionally, they are checking whether the elevator was used as a transit platform for converting funds into cash. According to preliminary estimates, the amount of questionable transactions is between USD 1.9 and 2.3 million, but this amount may increase after the analysis of new documents. The court decided to grant the investigation's request and imposed a personal commitment on the suspect. He has to fulfill the duties determined by the court until January 5, 2026.

The court in Mykolaiv region also closed the criminal proceedings against Oleksandr Sytnikov, a city council member and director of Ochakivske KhPP. He was suspected of illegally exporting seized grain worth more than UAH 14 million, but the case was closed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Анна Бальчінос