Odesa Grain Complex Seized by ARMA Amid Investigation of Illegal Disposal

A large maritime transportation and storage complex for grain cargo was transferred to the Asset Recovery and Management Agency. It is located in Odesa region and includes a grain transshipment berth.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office, this facility belongs to a company associated with a well-known businessman who is currently in custody. In addition, the National Security and Defense Council imposed personal special economic sanctions and other restrictions on him.

Law enforcement officers found out that in 2016, officials of a number of companies, including former shareholders of a bank, illegally disposed of the complex. It was pledged to the National Bank of Ukraine under a mortgage agreement, but was illegally alienated. The actions of the suspects fall under Article 388 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal actions with pledged property).

An investigation is also underway into tax evasion in 2022-2024 by officials of these companies.

The head of ARMA, Olena Duma, confirmed that the agency had taken over the real estate of Agroterminal Logistic.

According to her, the property of Agroterminal Logistic LLC was transferred in accordance with the decision of the investigating judge of the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv as part of the criminal proceedings being investigated by the BES.

Duma noted that the transfer of the asset to ARMA's management is due to an investigation into the illegal actions of officials of several companies, including PrivatBank, including the bank's former owners, including Ihor Kolomoisky and Hennadiy Boholyubov.

"ARMA is starting the procedure of finding a manager for the transferred asset. The first step will be to conduct an inspection of the asset, which will allow collecting the necessary information on its technical condition and possible mechanisms for effective management," the statement said.

After the inspection and receipt of additional information from the Prosecutor General's Office, a tender will be announced to evaluate the asset. A specific manager will be selected through a separate tender on Prozorro.

Андрій Колісніченко