Ukraine uncovers massive scheme of importing Russian medicines: damages exceed 270 million hryvnias
In Ukraine, law enforcement agencies have completed a large-scale operation exposing an organized criminal group engaged in illegal imports and distribution of Russian pharmaceutical products amounting to hundreds of millions of hryvnias.
According to official reports, the scheme was led by a Russian citizen — owner of major pharmaceutical holdings and a member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences.
Starting from the early 2000s, he established subsidiary companies in Ukraine with similar names through front persons, and after 2014, he launched pharmaceutical production in a European country near Russia to bypass sanctions.
There, packaging was altered, and the medicines were disguised as European products.
The scheme involved Ukrainian company founders, quality control specialists, registration experts, and an accountant.
Even after the start of Russia’s large-scale invasion, the official representative of the holding in Ukraine continued activities and intensified the clandestine supply and concealment measures.
The total sales of Russian medications in Ukraine reached over 270 million hryvnias, with some profits transferred to accounts in Russia.
During raids, law enforcement seized over 40 boxes of documents, computers, and phones with correspondence discussing sanctions circumvention, money distribution, and hiding the origin of the medicines.
A house of more than 700 square meters belonging to the Russian holding’s owner was seized in Kyiv; it served as an office and warehouse.
The Ministry of Health also initiated the cancellation of the registration of 11 medicines linked to this company.
Suspects have been charged with engaging in business activities with an aggressor state within an organized crime group.
Previously, authorities uncovered large-scale theft schemes in Mykolaiv region involving over 364 million hryvnias in misappropriated funds.