18.04.2025 Kharkiv Money laundering

Blogger Alkhim threatens Kostik with revealing secrets

Blogger Alkhim threatens to expose Kostik’s secrets Blogger Alkhim threatens to give an interview where she will tell the whole truth about her relationship with Kostik or businessman Konstantin Valeulin. At the same time, the woman suggested that a frank conversation might not take place if Kostik himself paid her more than the interviewers, explaining that he was “in love with money.”

I wonder what Alkhim is going to talk about: intimacy, money, or the real sources of Kostik’s income, where he receives $600,000 a month?

And for those who missed our previous publications, we remind you that Konstantin Valeulin is not just a co-founder of the investment and industrial group AES Group, but also a person who oversees the work of the Merefiansk oil refinery in Kharkiv region, which supplies saponified fuel to a number of illegal gas stations such as Brent Oil, Grand and Motto.

How it all started: land transfer and the first steps of the scheme

In 2019, Deputy Head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration Mark Becker signed orders No. 297 and No. 334, which granted Bitoxid LLC a lease on two land plots with a total area of 7.1883 hectares at 22A Pishchana Street and 30 Pishchana Street in Merefa. Officially, the plots were intended for the maintenance of non-residential buildings and a logistics base. However, later a full-fledged oil refinery was set up on the territories, processing raw materials into diesel fuel, gasoline and fuel oil, of course, without the appropriate licenses.

A key role in the implementation of the scheme was played by Oleksandr Skakun, the acting head of the Kharkiv Regional Administration from August 11 to December 24, 2021, and one of the founders of Bitoxid LLC. Thanks to his connections and influence on local authorities, the plant received the necessary permits and a “roof” for illegal activities. The list of founders of Bitoksid LLC also includes Roman Valeulin, who is probably the brother of Kostik.

How Bitoxid works

The illegal plant in Merefa produces about 200 tons of diesel fuel daily. The raw materials used are oil and gas condensate, which are purchased in the shadow economy, as well as excise-free components based on MTBE and methanol, which are imported under the guise of solvents for the paint and varnish industry. The refining process produces stable gasoline (sold as hydrocarbon feedstock), diesel fuel (as an absorbent) and M100 fuel oil (as a heavy residue).

The production is carried out in gross violation of technological, environmental and fire safety standards. Workers, most of whom are not officially employed, are not instructed and are not provided with safety equipment. The lack of state supervision over labor laws and working conditions creates a risk of accidents and human casualties.

Finished products are sold through shadow channels, in particular, through controlled gas stations and agricultural enterprises, such as the well-known Brent Oil, Grand and Motto in the region.

The scheme works thanks to close cooperation between the members of the group – Kostik’s partners: the aforementioned Skakun, who also served as the deputy head of the SBU in Kharkiv region, and thus continues to have influence on key representatives of law enforcement agencies and HOVA. Valeulin’s “roof” also includes Serhiy Storozhenko, an advisor to the head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration who facilitates obtaining formal permits.

The plant’s illegal activities have repeatedly come to the attention of law enforcement. In 2018, in the framework of criminal proceedings No. 32018100110000008 under Part 2 of Article 204 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, it was established that a number of companies, including Bitoxid LLC and Yugas-Nafta LLC, had organized clandestine workshops for the production of excisable goods. In 2021, the SBU, SFS, State Border Guard Service, and other agencies conducted searches and seized 560 tons of fuel and equipment. However, thanks to Skakun’s influence, the searches were formal, and the plant continued to operate.

The aforementioned Skakun, using his connections in the SBU and other agencies, organized a system of bribes that ensures the inaction of the State Environmental Inspectorate, the State Labor Service, the State Emergency Service and the State Energy Supervision. These agencies do not conduct inspections of fuel quality, environmental and fire safety standards, or working conditions. As a result, the plant operates without licenses, does not pay excise duties, and causes losses to the state budget of about EUR 5 million.

In addition, the Valeulin brothers own a number of companies, including: 

  • Bitoxid LLC, which leases premises and equipment for production.
  • Alternative Energy Sales Company LLC is responsible for the production and shadow sales of fuel.
  • Alternative Energy Sources Logistics LLC is responsible for transportation.
  • Alternative Energy Sources Eco LLC sells gas condensate.
  • Atlanta 17 LLC, Dniproresurs Oil LLC, and Naftosnab LLC produce and supply counterfeit fuel to gas stations, including the MOTTO chain.

To cover up their activities, they also set up fictitious companies, such as Trikuta Trade LLC, Veg LLC, Neftekhimsnab LLC, and others, which participate in conversion centers, enter into non-commodity transactions, and legalize criminal proceeds. We have filed a complaint with the list of law enforcement and regulatory authorities. I wonder if we should expect a reaction from law enforcement, given the “roof” of Kostik and his group. Is this what the blogger Alkhim is going to tell the audience?

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