Yuliia Olkohvska

Russian attacks on frontline communities in Zaporizhzhia oblast intensify. Today people, who earlier refused to leave their homes, decide to evacuate after direct strikes on their houses or death of their neighbors. Each evacuation case looks like special operation because frontline territories are very close to kill zone. Policemen, the military and humanitarian organizations work together to evacuate people from settlements being hit daily by Russian artillery and FPV-drones. The Transit Center in Zaporizhzhia is the first safe place for evacuated people who lost everything. Refugees can renew their documents, receive assistance and find temporary accommodation.

Before the Russian invasion, Zaporizhzhia oblast, with its glory of industrial giant, has been also within five Ukrainian regions with highest gross grain yield. Russian occupation of this Ukraine’s Azov region and ongoing war deprived the region of its significant land area and rich crops and revenues. Since the beginning of occupation, Russians and their collaborators have looted grain elevators, seized crops, agricultural machines and processing enterprises.

The CJI will disclose what schemes Russian occupants use to steal with impunity and exploit occupied Ukrainian agricultural companies and enrich aggressor and its troops.

In 2022, Russian caravans of weapons and armored vehicles drove into Southern Ukraine, occupied by Russia. Russian railroad cars and trucks with stolen assets and ore went in the opposite direction – to Russia. These trucks carried valuable agglomeration ore from Pivdenno-Bilozerske ore deposit in Zaporizhzhya oblast. They contain high share of iron and do not need enrichment.

Zaporizhzhya Iron Ore Plant (ZZRK) became the most precious stolen asset of Russian occupants in the region. It is very profitable in supplying iron ore to metallurgical plants in occupied Donbas and Russia. After the Russian occupation, it has been controlled by businesses of Viktor Medvedchuk and Ramzan Kadyrov, very close to Kremlin authorities.

Legitimate owners and largest shareholders of ZZRK are Ukrainian steel plant «Zaporizhstal», Slovak «Minerfin» and Czech KSK Consulting. In 2022, its final beneficiary owner Ukrainian oligarch Rinat Akhmetov submitted the lawsuit to the European Court on Human Rights against Russia, claiming compensation of his losses and violation of his ownership rights. Information request of the CJI for interview with the head of ZZRK or other authorized person was left without answer.