Yanukovych's son controls coal export from occupied territories of Ukraine - Media

According to the news agency, a company close to Oleksandr Yanukovych registered in Rostov-on-Don has exported nearly half a million tons of coal abroad in recent years. The majority of the coal was sent to Türkiye. There, the coal was sold to an offshore company at a low price, which allowed for savings on customs duties. Later, the offshore company could sell the coal anywhere and at any price.

However, the coal marked as Russian in customs declarations was actually mined not in Russia, but in coal mines in Donetsk and Luhansk. This coal was exported by entities linked to the son of former Ukrainian President Oleksandr Yanukovych.

"In 2023–2024, they exported nearly half a million tons of anthracite abroad, officially through the Uspenskaya and nearby Gukovo stations. Payments for the coal go to the account of an offshore company in the British Virgin Islands, and the coal is sent to Türkiye and other countries," the news agency writes.

The key company in the scheme is likely Energoresurs, formally owned by Aleksey Ivanov. This person has worked in legal companies associated with Oleksandr Yanukovych since 2016. In particular, the director of Energoresurs, Pavel Zemlyakov, may also be linked to the son of the former Ukrainian president.

This company exported nearly half a million tons of coal from Russia in 2023 and 2024. According to journalists, the main suppliers of the company are several enterprises from Donbas, including Torgovy Dom Donskie Ugli, RTK Vostokugol, the Komsomolets Donbassa mine, the Zhdanovskaya mine, Impeks-Don, and others.

In 2023, the company received a $7 million loan at 1% interest from the Cypriot company Sl Holdings Limited, which was previously controlled by Eduard Slynko, former CEO of the holding company of Yanukovych's son, Mako. Currently, the company is owned by Darya Lavrynets, who is linked to the Yanukovych family.

Energorysurs purchases coal in Donetsk and supplies it to Türkiye through the Energy Union British company. Due to the low price of $57 per ton, the company avoids high customs duties, after which the coal is resold at market value. After the EU's ban on Russian coal in 2022, Energorysurs shifted its main market to Türkiye. From 2021 to 2023, the company associated with Oleksandr Yanukovych earned over $35 million.

Criminal prosecution of Yanukovych in Ukraine

In March 2023, it became known that former fugitive Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych would be tried for incitement to desertion and the organization of illegal border crossings.

In July, an indictment was sent to court regarding the fugitive president Viktor Yanukovych for the usurpation of state power in 2010.