According to sources in the editorial office, restrictive measures against Ihor Kolomoyskyy, Hennadiy Boholyubov, Viktor Medvedchuk, and Kostyantyn Zhevago were imposed at the request of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Meanwhile, sanctions against Petro Poroshenko, MP and leader of the European Solidarity party, were introduced at the request of the government.
The sources stated that the National Security and Defence Council imposed sanctions on the Ukrainian oligarchs, allegedly due to their actions serving Russian interests. They also indicated that criminal proceedings are ongoing against each of them.
Thus, according to the sources, sanctions against Poroshenko were imposed due to:
- A criminal case on high treason, in which Poroshenko, in collusion with Medvedchuk and the Russian leadership, allegedly allowed Centrenergo to purchase coal from Russian-occupied territories, undermining Ukraine’s energy independence from Russia.
- His involvement in establishing the Party of Regions and his tenure in Viktor Yanukovych’s government, during which he participated in preparing the Kharkiv Agreements as foreign minister.
- Cooperation with Russia: Owning assets in Russia, including the Roshen factory in Lipetsk and Sevmorzavod in Crimea, which, according to the sources, made him interested in continued cooperation with Russia and in maintaining the Black Sea Fleet’s presence on the peninsula.
Sanctions against Kolomoyskyy and Boholyubov were imposed due to:
- Their status as founders and beneficiaries of Eclaris Group Limited in 2023. The company allegedly sold oil and gas to Gazprom subsidiaries through shell companies that paid taxes to the Russian budget.
- The withdrawal of UAH 750 million from PrivatBank.
The grounds for sanctions against Zhevago included:
- His close ties with Russia, particularly with sanctioned Russian oligarch Aleksey Fedorichev.
- Banking sector crimes, including the withdrawal of UAH 500 million in loans from Finance and Credit Bank.
- Continued cooperation between Zhevago’s Ferrexpo group and Russia. In 2022, AvtoKrAZ allegedly exported trucks to Russia, while Rosava and Premiumi tyres were supplied to Russian forces in occupied Donbas.
Sanctions against Medvedchuk were imposed indefinitely based on both past and recent accusations, including:
- Gathering intelligence on the Armed Forces in favour of Russia.
- Blocking the introduction of advanced cellular radio technologies in Ukraine.
- Activities within the now-banned Opposition Platform - For Life (OPFL) party.
- Anti-Ukrainian activities of his media resources.
- Involvement in anti-Ukrainian propaganda in Russia.
In 2024, the SBU shut down the Voice of Europemedia outlet, which was part of the pro-Russian Druha Ukraina project. The outlet was reportedly led and financed by Medvedchuk and coordinated by the Russian Federal Security Service’s 5th Service.
Context.
The case of Poroshenko's suspicion of treason in connection with the purchase of coal from mines controlled by the Russian-backed authorities in Luhansk Region has been ongoing since 2021. The politician's lawyers argued that he had not been involved in organising the purchase of this coal, although he knew about it. The argument in favour of this decision was to ensure the country's energy stability. The investigation believes that Poroshenko conspired with Medvedchuk to disrupt the purchase of coal from an African country and buy it instead from companies in the occupied territory.
This is not the only suspicion announced against the politician. In 2020, he was involved in a case of abuse of power.
Yesterday, the Ukrainian president said in his evening address that the National Security and Defence Council had imposed sanctions on those who made billions on Ukraine's national interests. He added that these billions should now work for the state. "We are defending our state and restoring justice: everyone who destroyed Ukraine's national security and helped Russia must be held accountable. The billions that were earned by actually selling Ukraine, Ukrainian interests, and Ukrainian security must be blocked and must work to protect Ukraine and Ukrainians," he said.
The president did not name any of the people under sanctions in his address, and the relevant decree had not yet been published.
The fifth president and leader of the Eurosolidarity faction, Petro Poroshenko, recorded a video message shortly after the publication of the sanctions, in which he said that restrictive measures had been taken against him. He called the decision illegal and accused the National Security and Defence Council and the government of following the instructions of Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Yesterday, Poroshenko said that the sanctions were imposed on him at the request of the Cabinet of Ministers.