Vladyslav Boleslavovych Yakubovskyy (born 30 October 1978, Khmelnytskyi) is the former head of the state company "Derzhekoіnvest". A controversial official in the government under President Yanukovych, he is one of the leaders of the "Trade Commodity" group of companies. He is implicated in corrupt tenders associated with the embezzlement of Kyoto Protocol funds, supplying substandard food products to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and providing counterfeit fuel and oils to the Ukrainian Railways and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.[1][citation needed][2]
Vladyslav Yakubovskyi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 30, 1978 |
| Political party | Opposition Platform — For Life |
Yakubovskyy is a business partner of Viktor Medvedchuk and Oleksandr Ponomaryov, member of the Ukrainian Parliament from the Opposition Platform — For Life party.[citation needed][citation needed][citation needed]
Biography
Vladyslav Yakubovskyy was born on 30 October 1978 in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. In 2000, he worked at the company "Halychyna Energo" in Ivano-Frankivsk.[citation needed] From 2001 to 2008, he worked at the companies "Astra-Invest" and "Astra-Trade".[3]
In 2008, he briefly served as an advisor to the head of Khmelnytskyi Regional State Administration, and in November became the director of the company "Mezonk-K", which is associated with Yuriy Ivanyushchenko ("Yura Yenakiyevskyi").[citation needed] In 2010, he was the deputy head of the State Reserve and head of the commission for the reorganization of this structure.[4] From December 2011 to April 2013, he was the head of the state company "Derzhekoіnvest".[5][6]
From 2014 to the present, he has been the de facto head of the Trade Commodity group of companies, created during the presidency of Petro Poroshenko by entrepreneurs close to him — Oleksandr Hranovsky and Andriy Adamovskyi.[citation needed]
Corruption scandals
Misappropriation of the "Kyoto Protocol" budget
In 2011, Yakubovsky was appointed the head of Derzhecoinvest, an agency established to implement the Kyoto Protocol agreements and manage funds invested by other countries to combat greenhouse gas emissions.[7] By June 2012, Derzhecoinvest had disbursed 1.2 billion hryvnias to three firms: Stroyinvest 2007, AntiTrade, and Sodetel. These companies were tasked with insulating 323 Ukrainian institutions, including schools and hospitals. This number later grew to 500 institutions and a budget of 1.7 billion hryvnias.[citation needed] This allocation bypassed standard tender procedures, ostensibly because of the urgency to finish the work before winter.
Two of these firms, Stroyinvest 2007 and AntiTrade, had previously been implicated in dubious dealings with Ukrzaliznytsia.[8][9]
By November 2012, it emerged that almost no progress had been made on the project. An investigation by "Ukrainska Pravda" found connections between all three intermediary companies and a figure known as Yuriy "Yenakiyevskyi".[10][11]
In a 2012 letter to then-Prime Minister Mykola Yanovych Azarov, Yakubovsky lamented the lack of support from Kyoto Protocol countries, except Russia and Belarus. Furthermore, a delegation led by Yakubovsky declared in a UN conference in November 2012 that Ukraine aimed to increase carbon emissions.[12][13]
to the then Prime Minister Mykola Yanovych Azarov, in which he complained that none of the Kyoto Protocol participating countries (except Russia and Belarus) supported Ukraine's desire to continue receiving assistance without reducing emissions. In other words, without fulfilling the main condition of the Kyoto Protocol. And in November 2012, a delegation chaired by Yakubovsky announced at a UN conference that Ukraine plans to increase carbon emissions.[14]
Yakubovsky's involvement persisted even after his removal and the Euromaidan-led government change. In 2014, revelations showed that the Kyoto Protocol's funds were still being overseen by Volodymyr Volodymyrovych Bandurov, with Yakubovsky as his assistant.[15]
Supply of substandard food products for the armed forces of Ukraine
From November 2008 to September 2009, Yakubovsky served as the deputy director of "Mezon-K."[16]The company became embroiled in controversy in 2009 over inflated prices for army food provisions and unverified expenses. Their money transfer recipient, "Epifit," was found to be a shell company.[citation needed] In the spring of 2009, this company was involved in a scandal over the embezzlement of funds for army food. It purchased products at a price twice the market value and did not verify expenses. The company "Epifit", to which "Mezon-K" transferred money, turned out to be fictitious.[17][18]
The lobbyist for "Mezon-K" was Mykhailo Yezhel, then the chief inspector of the MOD. According to an investigation by Tetiana Chornovol, Mykhailo Yezhel advanced in the Ministry thanks to the protection of Yuriy Ivanyushchenko. The same investigation mentions another person connected with Ivanyushchenko, Dmytro Medvedev — later he will appear in the list of one of Yakubovsky's companies.[19]
In 2010, the "Mirror Weekly" publication alleged that some firms, including "Mezon-K," were implicated in orchestrated food poisoning incidents to push for new suppliers.[20]
Tender machinations of the "Trade Commodity" company system
"Trade Commodity" is a conglomerate that burgeoned after Petro Poroshenko's election as president. It rapidly became one of Ukraine's most significant tender victors and fuel importers.
As calculated by "Our Money" (укр. "Наші гроші") based on the analysis of the "State Procurement Bulletin" data and the "Prozorro" system information, during Petro Poroshenko's term, the "Trade Commodity" companies conducted tenders worth a total of 17 billion.[21] The company's political shield was allegedly Oleksandr Hranovsky, with businessman Andriy Adamovskyi as the main investor and Vladyslav Yakubovskyi in charge.[22]
In April 2016, the Ministry of Defense held a tender for fuel procurement which "Trade Commodity" won, pledging to supply fuel worth 1.24 billion hryvnias. An investigation by "Mirror Weekly" suggests that price manipulations led the Ministry of Defense to overpay by at least 100 million hryvnias.[23]
In 2018, NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) concluded its pre-trial investigation, implicating several individuals, including officials from the Ministry of Defense and the owner of "Trade Commodity." By 2019, NABU had formally charged these individuals concerning the tender.[24]
In 2019, NABU brought charges against officials of the Ministry of Defense and "Trade Commodity" regarding this tender.[citation needed]
Tender machinations of the "Torum" company
In 2017, "Torum" was referred to as a clone of "Trade Commodity." This company is linked to Vladyslav Yakubovskyi through its beneficiary, Dmitry Medvedev, who managed "Synergy" until 2020, a company owned by Yakubovsky.[citation needed] The office of this company was located in the "Eurasia" business center in Kyiv, alongside the offices of Alexander Hranovskyi and Andriy Adamovskyi.[25][26]
After introducing a certification for companies supplying oil to Ukrainian Railways (UZ), "Torum" became one of two firms granted permission. The other, "Agrinol", has ties to former MP Oleksandr Ponomarev..[27]
In 2018, "Torum" secured a tender to supply diesel to the "Astra" plant but defaulted on the contract. That year, they also attempted to sell gasoline to the Ministry of Defense—a prohibited act in Ukraine, one previously attempted by "Trade Commodity".[26]
That same year, "Torum" provided diesel to UZ for 700 million UAH at an inflated price, according to the State Fiscal Service. They also neglected to pay about 920 million UAH in taxes for fuel and oil imports.[citation needed]
In September 2020, Ukrainian Railways' tender department leadership changed, with Timur Valiev overseeing tenders. Just a month later, UZ experienced a fuel crisis.[28] Most companies that won fuel tenders declined to supply at the agreed rates due to rising diesel market prices. "Torum", the major supplier from that tender, was the first to decline. After extensive negotiations, UZ paid 30% more.[29][30]
Tender disruptions
In spring 2017, Ukrzaliznytsia announced a 304 million hryvnia tender to acquire 250 freight semi-trailers. Of the three participating companies — Kriukivskyi, Popasnianskyi plants, and "Maksmed International" — the latter entered despite only providing one out of the required two similar work contracts.[31] "Maksmed International" (a part of the "Trade Commodity" group) also won another Ukrzaliznytsia tender worth 60 million hryvnia.[31]
During the tender process, Maksmed approached the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) and removed the Kriukivskyi plant from the competition. After this, "Maksmed" challenged a series of Ukrzaliznytsia tenders, blocking the procurement of carriages amounting to nearly 8 billion hryvnia.[32] "Ekonomichna Pravda" found out that the mass challenges to the tenders began when "Maksmed International" was re-registered under Yulia Pavlichenko.[33]
In 2017 alone, "Maksmed" filed 157 complaints about procurements, mainly concerning Ukrzaliznytsia's purchases. VoxUkraine researched and found that the company did not participate in the disputed tenders and concluded that the company's actions could be interpreted as sabotage.[34]
Supply of counterfeit to UZ and the Ministry of Defense
The National Police's Main Investigative Department determined that from 2015 to 2016, "Trade Commodity" group companies sold adulterated petroleum products instead of genuine gasoline and diesel brands. Four companies supplied these fakes to "Trade Commodity".[citation needed] In particular, in 2017, the head of the State Reserve, Vadim Mosiychuk, reported a conflict with "Trade Commodity" due to the supply of substandard fuel. The conflict was related to the fact that the supplied gasoline began to stratify in the tanks within two weeks. In 2019, the State Fiscal Service investigation unveiled the import of adulterated fuels into Ukraine during 2018–2019, which were later sold at elevated prices.
VAT reimbursement
Despite the government setting a zero VAT rate on fuel for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense still paid its suppliers 7% VAT. Investigations in 2022 revealed a private supplier's manipulation of funds meant for tax repayment to the state. This supplier, linked to the companies of Vladyslav Yakubovsky, sold fuel to the state at an inflated rate.[35][36][citation needed][citation needed][citation needed]
Attempt to undermine Ministry of Defense's open tenders
On June 6, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine conducted open tenders through Prozorro for the purchase of 22 food items for the army, as a result of which 6 billion UAH were saved.[citation needed] The Anti-Corruption Council and activists accused Trade Granite Invest company of trying to sabotage the open tenders in Prozorro for the procurement of food products for the army. The owner of this company is Yuliia Pavlichenko, who also owned Makmed International, one of the most scandalous companies of the Trade Commodity group.[citation needed]
To sabotage the open Prozorro bids, Yakubovsky's company used mass lawsuits and a dirty information campaign against members of the Anti-Corruption Council of the Ministry of Defense, including using pro-Russian media — Anatoly Shariy, Vadym Rabinovich, the Resident telegram channel and others. Council member Dana Yarova estimated the commissioned campaign at $100,000.[37][38]
NTK "Electronprylad" is an enterprise participating in Ukrainian combat aviation modernization programs, specifically manufacturing onboard general systems of embedded control and crew warning for MiG-29 and SU-27 aircraft.[39][40]
According to the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine, "Trade Commodity" companies used the state enterprise as a cover for non-commodity operations.[41]
CoralEnergy, a key fuel supplier, replaced ProtonEnergyGroup S.A. in 2021 and began delivering "Rosneft" products to Ukraine.[42] The sale of solvent by LLC "Himprodukt Plus" to "Electronprylad" resulted in a loss of over 120 million UAH, as the selling price was below the cost of its components.[43][44][45][40]
Collaboration with pro-Russian politician
Recently, based on materials from the SBU and the DBR, Oleksandr Ponomaryov, a deputy of the OPFL, was suspected of treason.[46] It was established that with the onset of full-scale war, he went to Berdyansk and set up the operations of his enterprises "Azmol" and "Agrinol" to supply fuel and lubricants for the military equipment of the Russian Federation.[47]
For more than 10 years, Ponomaryov has embezzled tenders from the Ministry of Defense and Ukrzaliznytsia for the supply of motor oil either with structures associated with Medvedchuk ("Cornet Oil", "Glusco", "Proton Energy") or with a group of companies "Trade Commodity" of Adamovskyi-Yakubovskyi ("Torum", "Fidea", "August Prom" and others).[48]
The monopolization of these tenders on two participants who acted as a single mechanism and shared public funds was achieved through artificial competition restrictions. Tender admission conditions were prescribed in such a way that they were suitable for products from specific suppliers.[49][50]
A similar scheme operated in the Ministry of Defense. The tender conditions for the supply of oil of a certain brand in the military department were designed specifically for one company — "Agrinol". The oil, which was supplied for Ukrainian tanks by the "Trade Commodity" group company, was of poor quality and caused tank engine failures.[51] Hero of Ukraine, tanker Yevhen Palchenko, said that his tank overheated due to the "Azmol" oil, causing it to constantly stop while the enemy was very close.[51]
Despite numerous scandals, the companies of the "Trade Commodity" group are still present in the tenders of the Ukrainian Railways and the Ministry of Defense, and even plan to enter the aviation fuel market.[52][53][54]
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