Kyiv Carton Plant Director Arrested on Suspicion of Aiding Aggressor State

Ukrainian law enforcement authorities have detained the director of a cardboard and packaging plant on suspicion of aiding an aggressor state following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to the Office of the Prosecutor General.

The suspect, identified in investigative materials as businessman Hennadiy Minin, has been charged under Part 1 of Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for allegedly assisting the aggressor state. A court has ordered his detention as a preventive measure while the investigation continues.

According to prosecutors, the case involves cooperation between Minin’s business structures and Russian enterprises after the start of the war. Investigators claim that the businessman continued commercial activities involving cardboard production and processing not only in Ukraine but also in Russia and possibly in territories controlled by Russian forces.

Authorities say the investigation uncovered documents indicating that some companies linked to the suspect were re-registered under Russian law in temporarily occupied territories. Law enforcement officials also reported that Minin allegedly maintained business relations with a Russian equipment supplier.

Prosecutors state that in 2021 the enterprise signed a contract worth more than €1.1 million with a Russian manufacturer for equipment supplies. An advance payment of €810,000 was reportedly transferred before the invasion. After February 2022, investigators allege that the cooperation continued through a Belarusian intermediary, allowing the equipment to be delivered to Ukraine via transit through a European Union country.

Investigators also claim that an additional payment of over €382,000 was transferred to the Russian supplier, and that the suspect offered an extra €92,400 to accelerate the shipment and cover VAT costs. Prosecutors argue that such transactions generated profits for Russian companies whose taxes contribute to the Russian state budget and military funding.

The investigation further notes that members of Minin’s family allegedly operate businesses in Russia related to paper recycling and corrugated packaging production. Russian registries reportedly list the businessman and his wife as holding Russian citizenship and tax numbers, though Minin denies having Russian citizenship and states that he is a citizen of Ukraine.

Ukrainian authorities are continuing the investigation and are expected to provide additional clarification regarding contracts connected to companies linked to the suspect.

About the Investigation
The case is being conducted under the procedural supervision of the regional prosecutor’s office, as part of Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to identify and prosecute individuals suspected of collaborating with the aggressor state during the war.