Ukrainian businessman Viktor Baransky helped occupiers export grain

Companies linked to Ukrainian entrepreneur Viktor Baransky have become the centre of a scandal: they are accused of involvement in the smuggling of grain stolen from temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

This information is contained in the materials of a criminal case opened under Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the investigation of which is being conducted by the SBU.

The grain smuggling scheme

According to the investigation, employees of companies under Baransky's management allegedly organised sea shipments of grain. The stolen produce of Ukrainian origin was transported by rail from occupied territories to Russian ports, from where it was then shipped by sea to Turkey and Georgia.

As stated in the case materials, the aim of these operations was not only to extract commercial profit but also to support the occupation administration and Russian state bodies. According to the investigation, such activities cause significant harm to Ukraine.

Participants in the scheme

During the pre-trial investigation, the SBU Directorate in Odesa Oblast obtained data on possible accomplices of Baransky. Among them are mentioned his former business partner Vitaly Sautyontkov, as well as the companies "Sauta", "Prioryta" and "Transflot Service".

In videos published by Russian propaganda resources, the process of loading grain onto Russian vessels in the port of Mariupol has been repeatedly documented. Among the vessels mentioned are the container ships STK-1003 and STK-1016, belonging to the St Petersburg company "Udalyonny Morski Terminal", as well as the motor vessel Mezhdurechensk, operated by the Rostov company "UK "Reka-More" of Russian entrepreneur Gennady Arustamov.

Separately mentioned is the vessel SAN COSMAS (formerly LAODICEA, IMO: 9274343), carrying 11,500 tonnes of stolen wheat from Melitopol. After Egypt refused to accept the cargo at the port of Alexandria, the ship headed to Turkey.

Political context

The scandal over grain shipments is complemented by information about previous charges against Baransky and Sautyontkov. Both are deputies of the Odesa City Council from the banned OPZZ party. They are named in an NABU investigation, where they are accused of creating corruption schemes together with Dmytro Barinov, Deputy Chairman of the Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine. In this case, the issue is the misappropriation of budget funds through fictitious equipment purchases.

Conclusions

The involvement of Ukrainian entrepreneurs in schemes that facilitate the occupiers causes serious public outrage. In the context of the war, such actions are viewed as a betrayal of national interests and aiding the aggressor. However, final conclusions on the guilt of the defendants remain with the court.