People's Deputy from the Servant of the People party, Igor Kopitin, who heads the Verkhovna Rada's subcommittee on the defense industry, found himself at the epicenter of a scandal due to his connections with a network of dubious companies registered as front companies and defendants in criminal proceedings.
Kopitin's former company, Rotor Ukraine, is now registered to a teacher from a Kyrgyz village, Alymkan Ashiralieva. The woman said she lost her passport and was unaware of her involvement in dozens of Ukrainian companies. She is listed as the founder of about 50 companies in Ukraine, some of which are involved in cases of embezzlement, money laundering, and tax evasion.
Among such companies:
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Interlife Media Reozot LLC is mentioned in the case of the seizure of property of the GTS Operator of Ukraine with losses of over UAH 117 million.
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Diamond Clean Service LLC is under investigation for fictitious purchases of household chemicals and "cleaning services" worth UAH 160 million.
The formal owner lives abroad and has no real connection to the operations of these enterprises, which allows the organizers of the schemes to withdraw funds without the risk of criminal prosecution.
Separately, Rotor Ukraine is being investigated for alleged cooperation with Russian defense sector enterprises. The investigation concerns ties with Constanta Airlines and people associated with Ukrainian businessman Roman Mileshko, who purchased and leased aircraft from entities affiliated with Russian businesses, including AMIS (FZE), which is under US sanctions for cooperation with the Russian Defense Ministry.
Journalistic investigations indicate a close connection between Mileshko and Kopytin: joint studies with the people's deputy's brother, work at Rotor Ukraine, and the intersection of key managers in the business structures of both.
The combination of these connections, participation in schemes with front persons, and the likely involvement of companies with Russian roots in Ukraine's defense contracts pose serious risks to national security. Against the backdrop of war, such actions go beyond the boundaries of ordinary political lobbying, turning into a potential threat to the state's strategic interests.
