Solomia Guzema

Since 2000s, Russian business group «luzhnikovskie», tightly connected with Russian criminal gangs and Federal Security Service (FSB), has gradually turned into malignant tumor embracing various economic spheres and threatening Ukrainian national security. High level Ukrainian corruption boosted its survival even after Russian invasion into Ukraine in 2014 and 2022. The group still controls Ukrainian objects of critical infrastructure – electricity distribution companies. It uses the scheme of fake de jure owners from EU countries and Ukraine. FSB stands behind each of them.

The Center of Journalist Investigations initiates a series of materials highlighting the consideration by the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine of the lawsuit of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine about nationalization of assets of sanctioned beneficiaries of company «VS Energy» founded by «luzhnikovskie». For the start, we will remind key aspects of this 25 years old story and its key figures.

Part of the road from Saky to Yevpatoria goes along the Black Sea. Sand beaches of Western Seashore of Crimea are called golden. Their origin is not volcanic. They were formed by covers of mollusks grinded by the sea. 

After the beginning of Russian full scale war against Ukraine, Russian occupants built trenches and shelters in golden sands and all Crimean seashore. They also reserved large part of the seashore for the giant resort complex. It is built by Group of Companies “Monolith” connected with Sergii Aksyonov, Russian “governor” of Crimea. 

In accordance with international humanitarian law, such an activity of aggressor state on occupied territories is qualified as war crime. We will name its accomplices.