\u00a0The Center for Journalist Investigations (CJI) found out real managers of Russian occupation authorities of occupied Zaporizhzhia region by using data from Russian public registers and official information channels.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
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The stele at the entrance to occupied Melitopol with Russian flag and Soviet symbols. Photo: RIA Novosti.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Immediately after the Russian full scale invasion into Ukraine, Yevhen Balytsky, the former parliamentarian from pro-Russian \u201cOpposition Platform\u201d political party, was appointed by occupants as the key public representative of the Russian occupation administration in Zaporizhzhia region.<\/span><\/p>\n Russia started setting up so-called \u201cgovernment of MCA of Zaporizhzhia oblast\u201d at the beginning of summer 2022. <\/span>Anton Viktorovich Koltsov<\/span><\/a>, the first Vice-Governor and the Head of Government of Russian Vologodska oblast, was appointed by occupants as the head of MCA. He entered Russian governmental bodies after the career within Russian metallurgical company \u201cSeverstal\u201d owned by Aleksei Mordashov, Russian oligarch and Putin\u2019s friend.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Aleksei Vladimirovich Lysov<\/b> was reported as the deputy of Koltsov on social issues in August 2022. He is also from Vologodska oblast. He is currently presented as \u201cthe deputy on industrial and infrastructural issues\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Mr. Lysov worked as the Deputy General Director of JSC \u201cDirectorate on Construction and Maintenance of Roads\u201d within the government of Vologodska oblast. In 2020, he won nationwide competition \u201cLeaders of Russia\u201d (launched by Sergei Kirienko, the Deputy Head of the Administration of the Russian President) and was appointed as the representative of oblast government for interaction with Russian federal authorities (this sphere is supervised by Kirienko). After the beginning of the Great War, Mr. Lysov was sent to Luhanska oblast (as the Deputy Head of Administration of occupied Alchevsk) and then to Melitopol, as the deputy of Koltsov. Since then, Aleksei Lysov has not made any public statements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Aleksei Lysov, the Deputy Head of Russian occupation \u201cgovernment\u201d in occupied part of Zaporizhzhia oblast. Photo: \u201c\u043b\u0438\u0434\u0435\u0440\u044b\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0438\u0438.\u0440\u0444\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n After Russian pseudo referendums about joining occupied Ukrainian regions with the Russian Federation, the Russian Single State Register of Legal Entities (EGRUL) started publishing data about <\/span>occupation authorities<\/span><\/a>, municipal enterprises, private legal entities (often <\/span>stolen from Ukrainian owners<\/span><\/a>) and individual entrepreneurs. As an outcome, information about Russian citizens and collaborators, heads of occupation ministries and departments, became publicly available. It is an evidence of their illegal actions and is the basis for applying sanctions against Russian citizens \u201cmanaging\u201d occupied Ukrainian territories and for opening criminal cases against Ukrainian citizens \u2013 collaborators and traitors. Below we cover people already introduced into the Russian Single State Register.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Russian citizens\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Yuri Vladimirovich Guskov<\/b> is indicated in the Russian register as the head of legal entity titled \u201cMinistry of Industry and Energy Sector of the MCA of Zaporizhzhia oblast\u201d. He came to Melitopol from Russian Sverdlovska oblast. He started his working career as an individual entrepreneur repairing leather shoes in 2004.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yuri Guskov, \u201cthe minister of industry of MCA\u201d of occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia oblast. Photo: facebook.com\/clasterpro<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n The Russian State Register also informs that \u201cminister\u201d Guskov keeps managing LLC \u201cInformation portal for employers\u201d. He is also the founder of LLC \u201cElectron\u201d (monitoring environmental pollution) and LLC \u201cKibertop\u201d manufacturing steel cisterns.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Ministry of Healthcare\u201d of MCA of occupied Zaporizhzhia region is being transformed from the \u201cdepartment\u201d of MCA to the level of \u201cministry\u201d. But Russian state media already <\/span>call<\/span><\/a> Boris Aleksandrovich Aleksandrov<\/b> as the \u201cminister of Zaporizhzhia oblast\u201d. He is currently the Minister of Healthcare Protection of Komi Republic of the Russian Federation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Boris Aleksandrov, the Minister of Healthcare Protection of the Komi Republic of the Russian Federation appointed to Melitopol. Photo: \u0418\u0410.\u0411\u041d\u041a<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n For the time of this publication, the Russian State Register did not contain information about \u201cthe Ministry of Healthcare of MCA of Zaporizhzhia oblast\u201d as the registered legal entity. On the other hand, the Register indicates \u201cthe Healthcare Department of MCA\u201d. <\/span>Viktor Viktorovich Kuchkovoi<\/b><\/a>, the former \u201cMinister of Healthcare Protection of DNR\u201d, has been its head since December 22, 2022. The \u201cDepartment\u201d as the legal entity received its state registration number (OGRN, in Russian terms) on the same date. At the same time, Balytsky issued an order about reorganization of the \u201cDepartment\u201d into the \u201cMinistry\u201d on December 20, 2022. This order mentioned Aleksandrov as the \u201cminister\u201d and Kuchkovoi \u2013 as his advisor. Deputy Ministers are <\/span>Elena Borchaninova<\/b>, the former director of the Center supporting the activity of the Ministry of Healthcare Protection of the Komi Republic, and local collaborator <\/span>Iryna Sklyana<\/b>, who served as the Deputy Head of the Department of Healthcare Protection of the Melitopol City Council before Russian occupation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Ministry of Agro-Industrial Complex and Food Policy of MCA of Zaporizhzhia oblast\u201d is headed by <\/span>Svetlana Yurjevna Shevchenko<\/b>. Half a year ago we covered her role in launching \u201cgrain express\u201d \u2013 about stealing the Ukrainian grain through Russian company \u201c<\/span>State grain operator<\/span><\/a>\u201d. Now we have official information about this Russian citizen (her Russian taxpayer\u2019s registration number is \u00a0220413293124). Before October 2022, she founded LLC \u201cNew life world\u201d in Saint Petersburg. The company conducted the wholesale trade of animals. Before February 2022, Svetlana Shevchenko managed \u201cAgrogrup\u201d company which raised animals in Stepanjanske village in Leningradska oblast of the Russian Federation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Svetlana Shevchenko, \u201cthe Minister of Agro-Industrial Complex\u201d of occupation \u201cgovernment\u201d of the Russian Federation in occupied Zaporizhzhia oblast. Photo: investigator.org.ua<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n The CJI already <\/span>informed<\/span><\/a> about appointment of <\/span>Radik Spartakovich Isjakaev<\/b> as the \u201cMinister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of MCA of Zaporizhzhia oblast\u201d. This businessman from Russian Mordovia headed municipal enterprise \u201cSmall Jerusalem\u201d in occupied Yevpatoria in Crimea. The enterprise managed tourist object with the same name. Under his management, the enterprise raised prices and was criticized for poor quality services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Infamously known \u201czoo-volunteer\u201d <\/span>Yuri Kovanov<\/b> is the deputy of Isjakaev. It was reported that he offered to Ramzan Kadyrov the dog brought from Mariupol ruined by Russian troops. He also \u201coffered\u201d the legend about the dog \u2013 as if it was owned by Azov servicemen and had nickname \u201cAdolf\u201d (<\/span>the dog was brought back to Ukraine during <\/span><\/i>an exchange of prisoners of war<\/span><\/i><\/a> on December 31, 2022 \u2013 ed.<\/span><\/i>).<\/span><\/p>\n Ramzan Kadyrov and Yuri Kovanov. Photo: rv-ryazan.ru<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n In accordance with the Russian State Register, \u201cthe Ministry of Finances of MCA of Zaporizhzhia oblast\u201d is headed by <\/span>Daria Nikolajevna Zinchenko<\/b><\/a>. Her Russian taxpayer\u2019s number is 614346263839. She received it in Russian Rostovska oblast. That\u2019s all the Russian Register informs about her. It means she has not been an individual entrepreneur, the head or founder of any legal entities in Russia. We failed to find any other information about her in Ukrainian databases.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n People from Sevastopol and Crimea\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Yulia Vasiljevna Gubanova<\/b><\/a> is the member of occupation \u201cgovernment\u201d of Zaporizhzhia region according to the quota of Mikhail Razvozhaev, the \u201cgovernor of Sevastopol\u201d. She loves giving public comments to the Russian mass media. Sometimes she is presented as an \u201cacting Minister of Transport\u201d, in other cases \u2013 as \u201cacting Minister of Construction, Architecture and Communal Services\u201d. It is not mistake. The Russian Register informs that Gubanova is registered as the head of both ministries. However, she also keeps her business position as a director of Moscow LLC \u201cConstruction company \u201cKomandiry\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yulia Gubanova, the head of two \u201cministries\u201d of occupation \u201cgovernment\u201d of the Russian Federation in Zaporizhzhia oblast. Photo: zp-news<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n She has been the founder of this company before November 25, 2022 but then the new founder appeared \u2013 Natalia Nikolaevna Maidanova, the wife of Denis Maidanov, the member of the Russian State Duma and propagandist-singer (he is known for propaganda song about Russian nuclear rocket called \u201cSarmatushka\u201d). The Ukrainian National Agency to Prevent Corruption recommended the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to impose personal sanctions on Mrs. Maidanova as the family member of the Russian parliamentarian whose well being might be linked to Kremlin regime. She also manages several propaganda projects like \u201cTerritory of the First\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Before appointment to the Zaporizhzhia occupation \u201cgovernment\u201d, she headed JSC \u201cSevastopolstroiproekt\u201d. Local media called it \u201cshell company\u201d to steal money from the budget of Sevastopol City. The company won public bids for 7.3 billion Rubles during last years. It received informal nickname of \u201cbeloved builder\u201d of Razvozhaev\u2019s government. Crimean and Russian mass media published many articles about company\u2019s failure to fulfill its obligations and fines imposed. In October 2022, the \u201ccourt\u201d of occupied Sevastopol satisfied the <\/span>lawsuit of occupation prosecutors<\/span><\/a> against the company. As an outcome, an agreement with the company was cancelled as it failed to repair the square in resort village Lubymivka. Now ex-director and ex-founder of this \u201cbeloved company\u201d manages transport, construction and communal services in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia region.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There is another \u201cminister\u201d from Sevastopol. His name is <\/span>Anton Robertovich Titsky<\/b><\/a>, the Ukrainian citizen. He headed the \u201cMinistry of Youth Policy of MCA of Zaporizhzhia oblast\u201d in June 2022. He came to occupied South of Ukraine earlier, in spring 2022. He managed propaganda projects within the Russian Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (he worked as an advisor of its head). The CJI <\/span>published<\/span><\/a> the following information about his biography.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Anton Titsky, the \u201cminister\u201d of occupation \u201cgovernment\u201d of the Russian Federation in Zaporizhzhia oblast. Photo: ForPost<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n In 2012, Titsky ran for the member of the Ukrainian parliament from \u201cRussian block\u201d political party. It won less than 0,5% of votes. In February-March 2014, he served at military checkpoints of illegal military unit \u201cSamooborona Sevastopolia\u201d [\u201cSelf-Defense of Sevastopol\u201d] and headed headquarters of \u201cRussian International\u201d, set up by Russian party \u201cRodina\u201d [\u201cMotherland\u201d]. Having managed Crimean branch of \u201cRodina\u201d, he moved to Moscow and got employment with the Russian Federal Agency for Youth Affairs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It was reported in the last summer, that <\/span>Ivan Komelov<\/b><\/a>, another Sevastopol participant of the \u201cRussian Spring\u201d, worked under Titsky\u2019s supervision in occupied Zaporizhzhia region. There is no information about his concrete duties.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There is far more information about 27 years old <\/span>Veronika Oleksiivna Aksutina<\/b>, \u201cthe deputy\u201d of Titsky. She also came to occupied Melitopol from Sevastopol. She is likely to be the Ukrainian citizen, her birth date is 11.1995 and taxpayer\u2019s registration number is 500603868584. She has been the founder and manager of Sevastopol regional organization \u201cRussian Youth Union\u201d until 2021 (she headed the organization when she turned 20 years old). She changed her maiden name to Oganesova and then back to Aksutina. In 2018, she worked as the leading specialist in the \u201cdepartment of youth affairs and sports\u201d in occupied Sevastopol.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Veronika Aksutina, \u201cthe Deputy Minister\u201d of occupation \u201cgovernment\u201d of the Russian Federation in the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia region. Photo: video screenshot\u00a0zp-news<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n The <\/span>website<\/span><\/a> of the occupation administration of the Russian Federation in Zaporizhzhia oblast has a special section of the \u201cMinistry of Property and Land Relations of MCA\u201d. However, the Russian State Register does not contain any information about such a legal entity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The webpage of this \u201cMinistry\u201d informs that <\/span>Vladimir Vasiljevich Gamanov<\/b> is an acting \u201cminister\u201d. He also <\/span>came from temporarily occupied Crimea<\/span><\/a>. He has owned and <\/span>managed three companies<\/span><\/a> on the Crimean Peninsula before the Russian annexation. In 2020, he has been appointed as the Deputy Head of occupation administration of Simferopolsky raion. He also headed the branch of \u201cYoung Guard of \u201cSingle Russia\u201d of raion. He is the founder of non-governmental organization \u201cPioneers of Crimean spring\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There are negative opinions about his work in social media. He is <\/span>accused<\/span><\/a> of misusing budgetary resources or redistributing land plots in favor of his wife.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Gamanov supervises \u201cnationalization\u201d of property in temporarily occupied Zaporizhzhia region. This property is treated by occupation authorities as \u201c<\/span>having no owners<\/span><\/a>\u201d. In fact, it is about land plots, transport and buildings stolen by occupants from Ukrainian owners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Vladimir Gamanov, temporarily acting \u201cMinister of Property and Land Relations of Military Civil Administration of Zaporizhzhia oblast\u201d. Photo: TASS.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n The \u201cMinistry of Tariffs and Price Regulation of MCA of Zaporizhzhia oblast\u201d is headed by <\/span>Andrei Vladimirovich Kochetov<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This \u201cminister\u201d came to Zaporizhzhia region from temporarily occupied Luhansk oblast. He has been the head of the trade union of so-called \u201cLNR\u201d there and even the employee of the \u201cministry of foreign affairs of LNR\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Andrei Kochetov, \u201cthe Minister of Tariffs and Price Regulation of MCA of Zaporizhzhia oblast\u201d. Photo: \u041b\u0418\u0426<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n Russian mass media also often mention Kochetov\u2019s deputy \u2013 Russian citizen <\/span>Yelizaveta Mikhailovna Chelakova<\/b> (Russian taxpayer\u2019s registration number is 615000986297). She is from Rostovska oblast. She headed association of entrepreneurs in Novocherkask. She ran for City Duma in 2015 but failed. In accordance with the Russian State Register, Chelakova <\/span>keeps managing<\/span><\/a> two private companies (sale of books and security service) and non-governmental organization protecting consumer rights.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Local collaborators\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n As we can see, top positions of the Russian occupation administration are allocated to public officials brought directly from the Russian Federation or from earlier occupied Crimea and Donbas. Local collaborators were given only two positions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Russian information sources call <\/span>Olena Oleksandrivna Shapurova<\/b> \u201cthe minister of education\u201d. Before the Russian occupation, she has been director of Melitopol college. She became <\/span>one of the first Melitopol collaborators<\/span><\/a> in March 2022.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Olena Shapurova, \u201cthe minister of education\u201d of occupation \u201cgovernment\u201d of the Russian Federation in occupied Zaporizhzhia oblast. Photo: subbota.ua<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n Shapurova agreed to head illegally created division and then \u201cdepartment of education\u201d. She forced teachers to cooperate with occupation authorities. She launched tuition process in schools and kindergartens in strict accordance with the program of aggressor. Ukrainian prosecutors announced her suspicion in collaborator activity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The Russian State Register does not have information about the \u201cMinistry of Education and Science\u201d as legal entity. But it does contain registration data about \u201cdepartment of education and science of Zaporizhzhia oblast\u201d and \u201cdepartment of education and science of Melitopol\u201d. Both departments are headed by Olena Shapurova.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Melitopol resident<\/span> Olena Volodymyrivna Martynenko<\/b> is another local \u201cminister\u201d. She was appointed by occupants to head \u201cthe Ministry of Labor and Social Policy of MCA of Zaporizhzhia ovlast\u201d. As local media <\/span>RIA-Melitopol<\/span><\/a> reported, she sold tickets at municipal ice arena before the appointment.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Olena Martynenko, collaborator, \u201cthe Minister of Labor and Social Policy\u201d of occupation \u201cgovernment\u201d of the Russian Federation in occupied Zaporizhzhia oblast. Photo: screenshot Youtube \u0420\u0418\u0410 \u041c\u0435\u043b\u0438\u0442\u043e\u043f\u043e\u043b\u044c<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/div>\n However, Russians also appointed their own supervisor: <\/span>Yevgenii Markelov<\/b> was appointed the deputy of Olena Martynenko. Before the Russian occupation of Melitopol, he worked in the Ministry of Labor of Krasnodarsky krai of the Russian Federation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Local collaborators were also appointed as deputies or advisors of ministers. For example, <\/span>Andrii Mykolayovych Boiko<\/b> was appointed as \u201cthe Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism\u201d. Before the Russian occupation, he has been the director of Melitopol sports school for children and youth.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/investigator.org.ua\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/aleksey_lysov.png\")
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