Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The assets of the producer of Moroshanska, which are linked to Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman, are being contested by several Ukrainian companies and investment structures. Among the contenders are the owners of the VARUS and EVA networks, the former owner of ATB, as well as companies connected to the restaurant and financial sectors.
This was reported by journalist Volodymyr Bondarenko. According to him, five companies filed bids for the competition to transfer the Moroshanska assets into management, which is being run by ARMA.
These are LLC “Alliance D”, management company “REDI-INVEST”, LLC “Legal Bureau ‘Prioritas’”, LLC “Meat Processing Plant ‘Yuvileinyi’” and management company “UKR CAPITAL”.
Who is contending for Moroshanska
LLC “Alliance D” is linked to the owners of the VARUS and EVA networks – Oleksandr Kityk and Ruslan Shostak. Their structures are developing one of Ukraine’s largest retail businesses.
The second contender is the MANAGEMENT COMPANY “REDI-INVEST.” According to Bondarenko, the company is registered to Artem Doroshuk, whom the journalist calls a partner of Ihor Surkis and Denys Kryuchkov in the IDC “Global” structure. The Global business group is also associated with the sushi distributor “Global Foods.”
Another participant in the competition is LLC “Legal Bureau ‘Prioritas,’” founded by Zhanna Yefremova. The journalist connects her with the project “TRC 1,” which she founded together with Oleksiy Tarnopolskyi.
Tarnopolskyi, in turn, is described as a co-owner of a restaurant group that includes Eshak, Benvenuto, Tanuki, and Queen. In this context, Bondarenko mentions Russian businessman Oleksandr Orlov.
Another contender is LLC “Meat Processing Plant ‘Yuvileinyi,’” which is linked to Serhiy Tarasyuk, the former owner of the ATB network.
The fifth company, according to the journalist, is UKR CAPITAL management company, linked to Serhiy Belyashov. Bondarenko notes that Belyashov is the owner of “Skeal Termium,” which operates in gas trading, and also connects him to business structures of Oleksandr Khomutynnyk and Pavlo Fuks.
The journalist separately mentions former co-owner of bank “Ukrkapital” Vasyl Astion and his business links. At the same time, some of Bondarenko’s assertions about the connections among the mentioned businessmen require documentary verification.
Why ARMA is trying to hand Moroshanska over for management
The assets of the Moroshanska mineral water producer have come under state scrutiny due to their connection with Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman.
ARMA is attempting to appoint a manager for the seized assets. The competition is to determine a company that can manage the enterprise and ensure its ongoing operation.
According to Bondarenko, the story of Moroshanska’s asset transfer has been ongoing for more than one year. The journalist asserts that Fridman sought to preserve control over the assets during the full-scale war.
At the same time, assertions about Fridman’s specific actions, as well as about the motives of certain politicians or businessmen in this case, require documentary confirmation.
After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Fridman was subjected to sanctions by Ukraine and several Western states. Ukraine has also applied mechanisms of arrest and management of assets associated with sanctioned Russian businessmen.
In his post Bondarenko draws parallels between the Moroshanska story and other Fridman assets, notably Sense Bank and Kyivstar. However, these assets have different legal statuses and different ownership procedures, so directly equating them is incorrect.
Now the main question is who exactly will have the opportunity to manage one of Ukraine’s most well-known mineral water brands.
“Who is contesting Moroshanska and what business interests lie behind the competition participants — we will analyze in a StopKor series of analytical materials. Coming soon — details about each contender.
As a reminder, ARMA announced a competition to manage the property of the TV channel OUR, which previously belonged to pro-Russian politician Yevhen Muraev. This concerns technical resources of the channel seized pursuant to a ruling of a judge of the Solomiansky district court in Kyiv. The assets of three companies are on the block: Nashe Praga, OUR 24 and OUR 365.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "За ”Моршинську” розгорнулася боротьба: хто претендує на активи Фрідмана". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: NARDEP 24.