SBU challenges deals on sale of special subsoil permits to Naumets

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has initiated court proceedings aimed at invalidating deals on the sale of special permits for the use of subsoil resources. 

The focus is on assets previously owned by Russian businessman Ihor Naumets, which, law enforcement officials claim, have effectively passed into the hands of Ukrainian entrepreneur Serhiy Shapran.

Court proceedings and SBU demands

According to court registry data, the SBU has filed counterclaims in ongoing cases currently under review by the Kyiv Commercial Court. Specifically, this concerns the challenge to the transfer of special permits for two key enterprises:

• Malyn Stone Crushing Plant (MKDZ)
• Pinyazevets Quarry

The Security Service asserts that these deals violate state interests and require their annulment. Furthermore, the SBU insists on the return to the Ukrainian budget of funds paid for the special permits under these deals.

Secret agreements: how Shapran seized "Yunigran" assets

According to investigation data, in September 2023, Serhiy Shapran met with Ihor Naumets in Istanbul. As a result of the meeting, a memorandum was signed, which effectively provided for the transfer of half of the business assets of the "Yunigran" group under Shapran's control. The estimated value of these assets exceeds $100 million. Naumets confirmed information about the deal in an interview with the publication "Skhemy".

The signed document included the following terms:

• Shapran undertakes to lift sanctions and court claims against the company.
• The Russian businessman continues to receive half of the profits from the business.
• The initial payment was $1.25 million, and the remaining amount was to be paid from the company's profits.

This deal became the starting point for the creation of a new shadow mechanism that allowed maintaining control over the enterprises and avoiding their nationalisation.

Financial flows and investigations

According to financial reports, in 2024, companies controlled by Shapran and previously linked to "Yunigran" received nearly 500 million hryvnia in profit. After the case became public, the National Police secured the seizure of some assets and accounts of these companies. In November 2024, the Pechersk Court issued a corresponding ruling.

Court documents confirm that:

• Shapran effectively became the shadow owner of "Yunigran" assets.
• The deals were executed through corrupt connections in state bodies, possibly with the involvement of Shapran's business partner, former MP Volodymyr Osypov.
• Despite numerous attempts by law enforcement to stop the companies' activities, the business continues to operate.

Questions the SBU must answer

In addition to challenging the special permit deals, a logical step for the SBU is to investigate the direct cooperation between Shapran and Naumets. The meeting and the signed memorandum are documented, and the Russian businessman's assets have not been nationalised, having effectively passed to a new owner.

Key questions requiring answers:

• Why did state bodies not confiscate the Russian businessman's assets but allow their redistribution?
• How did "Yunigran" manage to bypass sanctions and continue its operations?
• Why, despite numerous criminal cases, does Shapran remain beyond the reach of Ukrainian justice?

Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly attempted to stop the activities of sanctioned companies, however, Shapran's connections in the judiciary allowed him to evade accountability. 

According to available data, the businessman is hiding abroad, while his companies continue to work for shadow owners, causing damage to the state budget and failing to provide necessary funds for the army and social needs.