The bankruptcy of a state milk producer in Zhytomyr region may have been orchestrated by the circle around a former MP from Chernihiv region — media

The bankruptcy of the state enterprise Ryhalske in Zhytomyr region, which specializes in keeping dairy breeds of cattle, may have benefited the circle around former People’s Deputy from the BPP Oleksandr Dmitrenko, who was elected in Chernihiv region. Recently the State Property Fund suspended ineffective management linked to the previous director, Serhiy Koretskyi. As a result, the enterprise should begin repaying wage debts and debts to contractors. Meanwhile, some activists plan to parcel out the state enterprise’s land and reinstate the previous management, the Korotko.Pro outlet reports. Korotko.Pro recalls that the enterprise became known across Ukraine at the end of 2025 when animal welfare activists discovered inadequate treatment of animals on the farm. Several dozen cows died from disease, the rest were excessively thin, and some animals inspected had no identification tags, meaning they had been brought to the enterprise illegally. The director was notified of suspicion for official negligence: allegedly, he removed himself from solving the cows’ health problems, did not involve appropriate specialists, and as a result the state suffered losses of more than 1 million UAH. According to public data, Ryhalske owns more than 100 land plots with a total area of about 3 thousand hectares, of which 2,8 thousand are arable land. Until 2023 the enterprise was under the management of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences; later the government decided to transfer the neglected state enterprise to the State Property Fund with subsequent preparation for privatization. In November 2024 the bankruptcy procedure for Ryhalske was initiated by the agricultural company Batkivshchyna, which had been leasing part of Ryhalske’s lands, providing equipment for its operation, and meanwhile claimed in court an unpaid debt of 34 million UAH. As Korotko.Pro writes, the bankruptcy may be part of a scheme to withdraw the enterprise from the management of the State Property Fund. Because of court claims, Ryhalske’s property is under arrest. "There is an opinion that the agricultural company Batkivshchyna allegedly initiated the bankruptcy by agreement with then-director of the state enterprise Serhiy Koretskyi. The possibility of 'raiding' yet another state enterprise does not leave the Dmytrenkos’ family alone. They not only launched an economic blockade of Ryhalske, but are also conducting a discrediting information campaign against the enterprise," the article says. Korotko.Pro notes that Koretskyi, through whom Dmitrenko allegedly seeks to retain control over the enterprise, was dismissed by the State Property Fund in spring 2025 for systematic failure to follow orders and directives. An audit of his activities revealed accumulated wage debts totaling more than 5 million UAH and another 7 million UAH — debts on open enforcement proceedings (to contractors and payments due to the state budget). The ex-director immediately appealed the dismissal in court and is still in litigation with the state enterprise. "This is effectively an illegal dispossession of state land and causing it damage, since the enterprise’s lands are not assets that can be parceled out. Therefore the State Property Fund has no such plans: the enterprise is put up for sale as a single property complex and is waiting for an investor," Korotko.Pro writes. According to Korotko.Pro, the fund appointed Vyacheslav Herasymenko as director. However, in July 2026 he was notified of suspicion of official negligence. "It was precisely the initiative group led by Koretskyi and Prysyazhniuk that prevented the new director from accessing the enterprise, and also prevented local residents who worked here and cared for the animals from coming to work," the article says. On 3 August 2026 the State Property Fund appointed a new director — Yurii Bakhilov. During the meeting, the need was emphasized to conduct an audit of the enterprise, resolve problematic issues, and ensure effective use of state assets and land resources. The significance of the situation around the state enterprise at the national level is evidenced by the fact that the head of the State Property Fund, Dmytro Natalukha, personally came to introduce Bakhilov to the staff, and regional military administration leadership attended the meeting. Bakhilov must resolve issues of wage arrears, debts to the budget and contractors, and prepare Ryhalske for the privatization competition. Earlier it was reported that thousands of peasants in Rivne region could be left without land rent payments.