The investigation established that the organizer of the large-scale scheme was a Russian citizen, the head of a pharmaceutical holding company and a member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. He used a subsidiary in Ukraine and a production base in one of the European countries to circumvent sanctions.
In fact, on the European platform, Russian drugs were simply repackaged and presented as products of “European production.” This allowed them to be legalized on the Ukrainian market without hindrance.
According to the Prosecutor General's Office, during the full-scale war, drugs worth over UAH 270 million were sold on the territory of Ukraine. Part of the profits went directly to the owner of the holding in the Russian Federation.
The scheme involved the director and founder of the Ukrainian company, the drug registration manager, the head of the quality department, and the chief accountant. They were the ones who organized the supply, legalization, and promotion of the drugs.
Among the products were found products based on rabbit droppings, snake venom, and crushed honey bee bodies. None of these products have been confirmed by international research, and their use could be harmful to health.
During searches in Kyiv, law enforcement officers seized more than 40 boxes of documentation, computers and mobile phones with correspondence discussing profits, sanctions avoidance and advertising policies. They also seized a house with an area of over 700 sq m, which belonged to a Russian owner and was used as an office and warehouse.
All those involved were notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - conducting economic activities in the interests of an aggressor state as part of an organized group. Additionally, the cancellation of state registration of 11 medicines was initiated.
The investigation is ongoing.
