The Security Service of Ukraine has blocked another scheme of “hidden” trade with the Russian Federation, which operated during the full-scale invasion of the Russians.
.in_text_content_22 { width: 300px; height: 600px; } @media(min-width: 600px) { .in_text_content_22 { width: 580px; height: 400px; } }
In the Zhytomyr region, two businessmen were detained who had established wholesale supplies of granite to enterprises in the aggressor country. Among their main clients were Russian companies owned by members of the Kremlin’s United Russia party.
Russian customers used a significant part of the illegal imports to produce monuments to the fallen Nazis who fought against Ukraine.
According to the investigation, a local entrepreneur was involved in organizing the transaction, who, even before the start of the full-scale invasion, was supplying mining products to the Russian Federation.
After February 24, 2022, the man continued to trade with the aggressor under the interrupted transit scheme.
For this purpose, he illegally traveled to one of the neighboring countries of the European Union, where he registered his own commercial structure.
It was established that this foreign company bought granite in Ukraine allegedly for business projects in the EU.
However, after receiving the Ukrainian products, the defendant sold them to real customers from Russia.
To buy granite in Ukraine and transport it to the EU, he recruited two accomplices from the Zhytomyr region. They looked for enterprises that extracted granite, bought it and transported it abroad. Subsequently, these two businessmen were detained in Ukraine.
During searches in the premises and offices of the detainees, documents and other material evidence of criminal activity were found. Large amounts of cash, possibly obtained illegally, were also discovered.
Currently, all three defendants have been reported on suspicion under Part 2 of Art. 28 and part 1 of Art. 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (aiding and abetting the aggressor state, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons).
The investigation continues to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. The perpetrators face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.