Three farmers have been placed on a wanted list in connection with business activities in the occupied Kherson region

In the Kherson region, three farmers are suspected of collaborating with the occupying authorities and re-registering their agricultural businesses under Russian law. 

The Center for Public Investigations examined the details of the case.

On October 29, the Mykolaiv Central District Court authorized a special pre-trial investigation into three farmers suspected of conducting business activities in collaboration with the aggressor state in the occupied Kherson region.

According to investigators, the organizer was the owner of “Vostok-Agro,” who recruited two other farmers into the scheme. In December 2022, the company and the “Agrinita” farm were re-registered under Russian law. They continued to operate in the village of Chornomorivka in the Kakhovka District.

According to the case file, the farms utilized hundreds of hectares of land, agricultural machinery, and irrigation systems. They sold their produce to Russian companies, paid taxes to the Russian Federation’s budget, and received subsidies from the occupying administration. Specifically, in 2024, “Vostok-Agro” received over 5 million rubles in aid.

The three farmers were notified that they were suspected of conducting economic activities in collaboration with the aggressor state as part of a premeditated conspiracy by a group of individuals. In June 2026, they were placed on the wanted list. The defense denied that they were evading the investigation and stated their willingness to participate in hearings remotely.

As reported by Intent, the individuals in question are likely Yevgeny Zhidov, Marina Pankova, and Vyacheslav Pankov. In related proceedings, their corporate rights in several companies, their property, four sprinkler machines, and the Regal 2665 pleasure boat were seized. 

Valery Saltikov, a deputy of the Kherson Regional Council, is also linked to this case and is suspected of collaboration. As part of another proceeding concerning his assets, agricultural equipment, a pleasure boat, and corporate interests in four agricultural enterprises were seized.

Анна Літман