The Security Service of Ukraine is investigating a large-scale scheme for the supply of Ukrainian products to the aggressor state contrary to sanctions. At the center of the investigation is Taras Barabash, a co -owner of one of the largest Ukrainian manufacturers of tea and coffee JSC Monomakh, which also has a Lovare brand.
Barabash is officially wanted, as evidenced by the data on the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He disappeared on June 16, 2024, shortly after the SBU conducted searches in the offices of the company and in the homes of its employees.
According to the investigation, "Monomakh" built a complex logistics scheme of bypassing the ban on export to the Russian Federation. The company's products were originally issued at the Polish firm Lovare sp. Z oo, registered with the head of the export department "Monomakh", then - headed to the Belarusian firm LLC "Natur Teknologis", which was also controlled by the same manager. And from there - to the Russian market.
The final point of the chain was the Russian company LDK LLC, which traded Ukrainian tea in the Russian Federation at least by May 2024. Thus, according to the SBU, it is not about accidental exports, but about a purposeful, well -organized scheme that worked through a number of affiliate structures in four countries.
The case is investigated under Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine-aiding and awards agency, committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy.
In the framework of the proceedings, the company's accountant has already been arrested, and she has received a house arrest. Meanwhile, Barabash, which has almost 40% of Monomakh's shares, is hiding from the investigation.
After the start of a full -scale invasion and disappearance from the Russian tea brands, Monomakh has increased its presence sharply. The revenue for 2024 amounted to UAH 2.3 billion, which is almost twice as much as the war. The proportion of the tea market is more than 25%, and almost a third of all sales are ATB. Products are also sold through Silpo, Metro, Novus and other networks.
State contracts were a separate source of profit - the supply of tea for Ukrzaliznytsia, medical institutions, the National Guard and the Armed Forces.
At the same time, the products of Monomakh and Lovare brands have not disappeared from the Russian market. It can still be found on Wildberries and Ozon marketplaces, which, respectively, pay taxes to the Russian budget or belong to persons close to Vladimir Putin.
