27.05.2025
Agro
How ex-NSDC Secretary Danilov’s family is robbing Ukraine through agricultural schemes
At a time when Ukraine is fighting for economic stability and national security in the midst of war, the family of former NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov is causing tens of millions of hryvnias in losses to the state.
AGROENERGOINVEST LTD: A facade for shadow business
AGROENERGOINVEST LLC, registered in Kyiv, is the central element of the corruption scheme. Established on October 25, 2019, the company is officially engaged in wholesale trade in grain, seeds and animal feed. However, its real activity is to legalize illegally obtained income through fictitious transactions and export of agricultural products.
The founders and ultimate beneficial owners of the company previously included Anastasia Danilova, the granddaughter of former NSDC Secretary Oleksiy Danilov, and her father, Maksym Danilov, who serves as a strategic advisor. In June 2024, Anastasiia Danilova was removed from the list of founders, probably due to the initiation of criminal proceedings No. 22024150000000163 of 02.07.2024 under Part 2 of Article 209 and Part 3 of Article 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which is being investigated by the Security Service of Ukraine in Mykolaiv region. That is why the current owners of the company, Viktor Cherednychenko and Maksym Chekryzhov, are only nominal and act in the interests of the real organizers.
An analysis of the financial statements of AGROENERGOINVEST LLC for 2023-2024, obtained from open registers, shows a sharp increase in the company’s revenues, which do not correspond to the volume of officially declared activities. In particular, in 2023, the company’s official income amounted to only UAH 15 million, while customs data indicate exports of goods worth more than $12 million in 2024 (approximately UAH 480 million at the NBU exchange rate). This discrepancy indicates a large-scale concealment of income.
Shadow procurement and fictitious exports
The scheme is based on the purchase of agricultural products (grain, seeds, oilseeds) for cash without documentation. Such transactions are not reflected in the accounting or tax reports, which allows the company to evade VAT, income tax and other mandatory payments. The purchased products are accumulated in warehouses in the seaports of Reni and Port Annental (formerly Yuzhne) in Odesa region, from where they are exported through foreign economic activity (FEA) entities with signs of fictitiousness.
According to customs authorities, in 2024, AGROENERGOINVEST LLC exported goods worth more than $12 million. The exports were carried out in violation of currency legislation: the real volumes of supplies were concealed, and the foreign exchange earnings were not returned to Ukraine. This allowed the organizers of the scheme to withdraw funds abroad and legalize them through offshore structures.
Sources in law enforcement agencies reported that the scheme of purchasing agricultural products included not only domestic suppliers, but also products from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. In particular, there are suspicions that some of the grain purchased for cash came from parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions occupied in 2022. This adds an element of financing the occupation regimes to the scheme, which may qualify as high treason.
A network of fictitious companies
To implement the scheme, the criminal group created a network of fictitious companies that have no real assets, employees or material base. Among them:
- “EXITO PLACE” LTD.
- LLC “CARPIO”
- REUTERS INVEST LLC
- STELLAR FA LLC
- LLC “SPHERANOVA”
- LLC “EXITORG”
- LLC “HARVEST ONE”
- “AGRO WAVE MC” LTD
- “GROWTH AGRO TRADE” LLC
- PE “Khleborob”
These companies, mostly registered in Mykolaiv and Odesa regions, were used to formalize fictitious transactions. For example, the products were purchased for cash from unnamed suppliers and then registered through fake consignment notes as if they came from legitimate agricultural producers.
An analysis of the registers showed that some of these companies, including EXITO PLACE LLC and KARPIO LLC, have common founders or directors with other companies that have previously been involved in grain smuggling investigations. For example, KARPIO LLC is associated with individuals who were involved in the illegal export of corn through the port of Odesa in 2021.
The search for suppliers for shadow purchases was carried out through closed Telegram groups, such as “harvest”, “Odiscount_2”, “Bulgaria Grain Food / INNOVATION GROUP” and “INNOVATION GROUP”. These groups posted information about the availability of goods, prices, shipping locations, and payment terms. This approach allowed them to avoid official channels and coordinate activities in the shadows.
The administrators of these Telegram groups used anonymous profiles, and access to the groups was granted only after verification through intermediaries. The groups also discussed logistical details, including the use of fake carriers and false customs declarations.
Exports through offshore companies
Exports were carried out through companies with signs of fictitiousness, such as:
- “AB TRADE” LLC
- HARVEST GREEN LLC
- DNIPRO AGRO INVEST LTD
- DUNAI AGROS LTD
- “VITALI-DIVA” LLC
- LLC “Continus Trade”
The products were shipped to affiliated foreign companies, including Bulgaria Grain Eood, INNOVATION GROUP LTD, Trinity Agriculture and Co. s.r.o. The transactions were accompanied by avoidance of currency control, which allowed legalizing the proceeds through offshore jurisdictions.
The analysis of international registers showed that INNOVATION GROUP LTD is registered in Bulgaria, but its ultimate beneficiaries are hidden through nominees in Cyprus. This indicates the use of a classic offshore scheme to conceal the true recipients of income. In addition, sources report that these companies are linked to traders in Turkey and Romania who have previously been involved in transactions with grain of questionable origin.
Attempts to cover their tracks
The criminal proceedings initiated by the SBU are the first step towards bringing the perpetrators to justice. However, the involvement of individuals associated with high-ranking officials raises concerns about possible pressure on the investigation. The exclusion of Anastasia Danilova from the founders of AGROENERGOINVEST LLC may be an attempt to avoid responsibility.
Sources in law enforcement agencies report that the investigation has uncovered additional evidence, including correspondence between the participants in the scheme, which confirms their coordination. There is also information about attempts to re-register assets to front companies after the investigation was launched.
We have submitted the relevant materials to the list of law enforcement and regulatory authorities. We are waiting for a response.
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