Assassination attempt on Yermolayev and arrest of Kobylansky may be linked to Odesa region oil-and-fat assets — media

An attempt on businessman Vadym Yermolaiev in Monaco and the criminal case against Odessa lawyer Mykhailo Kobylianskyi may have a common economic context — control over sunflower production, its processing, and export infrastructure. This is stated in an investigation by RBC-Ukraine. 29 In June, near a residential building in Monaco, a homemade device exploded. Yermolaiev, his partner, and 13-year-old son were injured. In an interview with CNN released 20 in August, the businessman stated that he still does not know the motive of the attack. He does not consider the attempted attack an official operation of the Ukrainian state, but suggests that the executors with experience in military intelligence could have been privately hired. The investigation did not confirm this version. However, media found a possible economic context of the attack. In particular, one of the assets of Yermolaiev’s business circles is LLC “Potoki” (Streams). The company is engaged in sunflower processing and has a terminal in Reni. According to the company, its actual capacity is about 2100 tons of processing per day, and oil production is up to 300 thousand tons per year. The other part of the possible production chain are former assets of Agroinvestgroup. Before bankruptcy, the holding united agricultural enterprises, a land bank, elevators, and oil and fat infrastructure. After the group fell apart, part of the assets continued to operate through new companies. In public materials, lawyer Mykhailo Kobylianenko’s connections link him to the transfer of part of the corporate rights after the holding’s bankruptcy. In June 2026 year, the court ordered his remand with a bail of 16,64 million UAH. In July, the appeal left this decision unchanged. The authors of the investigation propose law enforcement to check who could gain control over the former Agroinvestgroup assets in case their current managers lose influence and whether there is a connection between this interest and the attack on Yermolaiev. Answers may be provided by the investigation materials, the history of corporate rights transfers, and information about the ultimate beneficiaries.