It has become known who Hennadiy Butkevych is actually sponsoring

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It’s unlikely you’ve heard the name Hennadiy Butkevych, yet everyone knows about the ATB stores.

And yet, this very person is the owner of the popular supermarket chain.

According to the publication, the businessman has completely lost control over his supermarkets in the so-called "LPR" and "DPR" after the new political elite in the region took an interest in them.

«The unclear status of Ukrainian businesses in the ATO zone, as it turned out, was only a matter of time. Hopes that agreements could be reached with the new leaders of the occupied territories collapsed along with the decree on the nationalization of the ATB retail chain, signed by the so-called head of the "DPR," Oleksandr Zakharchenko. The documents surfaced online and sparked lively discussions.

Some rejoiced at the news due to, so to speak, personal "sympathies" toward Butkevych, while others sympathized, as, after all, assets worth 300 million dollars fell into the hands of separatists. But for everyone, and especially for the Ukrainian authorities, this was a clear signal that in the ORDLO, they are not joking around, and they are ready to show their iron fist again if necessary. At least, as long as Russian tanks cover their rear. The conclusion is simple - there will be no compromises», the publication writes.

 

Initially, some of Butkevych’s "well-wishers" tried to label this as a "conspiracy." But when information about the seizure of ATB began to come from sources in the SSU, rumors of "treason" turned into panic.

"The militants took possession of the property, actively using ATB’s attributes for their own interests. And people who didn’t delve into the essence of the problem started saying that the company’s employees were allegedly involved in this," said the deputy director of the chain, Shapovalova.

According to data provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 152 ATB stores came under the jurisdiction of separatists, notes «Kompromat 1».

Currently, in the "DPR," these stores position themselves as "First Republican Supermarket," and in the "LPR" as "Narodnyi."

"When the stores were closing, we focused our efforts on helping and ensuring the safety of our employees. Many of them expressed a desire to leave the ATO zone. Hennadiy Butkevych personally participated in organizing the evacuation of our employees’ children from dangerous areas of the city when the terrorist attack at Donetsk airport began. And after all this, some deputies are trying to accuse us of ATB and Hennadiy Butkevych being somehow connected to separatists. Although ’ATB-Market’ has suffered from this war far more than others," said the deputy director, as quoted by the publication.

The media recalled that earlier, the Radical Party submitted a bill to the Verkhovna Rada initiating the nationalization of ATB. The arguments cited were «suspicion of collaboration with separatists.» However, soon after, the deputies withdrew their signatures, as the allegations against Hennadiy Butkevych and ATB employees proved to be baseless.

Hennadiy Butkevych as a «white crow» in business

Nowadays, it’s fashionable to dig into the past of businessmen who made their fortunes in the early 90s and successfully develop their businesses today. And, as a rule, they are somehow linked to Yanukovych and the "Family."

So many rumors circulate in the media about Akhmetov, Kolomoyskyi, and Firtash (let’s not pretend, some of them are true) that these unfortunate oligarchs should at least build a candle factory to atone for their sins. Entrepreneurs who don’t lead a particularly public life are under special scrutiny by journalists and law enforcement. Does that mean they have something to hide?

Standing apart from the entire oligarchic-political cohort is Hennadiy Butkevych, the owner of the largest retailer "ATB-Market." The businessman doesn’t give reasons for political or corporate scandals, but what does the personality of Hennadiy Butkevych really hide? 

From a policeman to a businessman

The future entrepreneur began his career back in Soviet times in law enforcement, in the department combating economic crimes. Over a few years of work in the authorities, the young and ambitious Butkevych solved dozens of cases. Not everyone appreciated the professional zeal of the young man, who repeatedly exposed higher-ranking officials in corruption schemes, recalls «Kompromat 1». And so, a case was fabricated against Butkevych and his colleague, accusing them of corruption.

«However, the evidence added to the case was so crudely falsified that the court didn’t even consider them and acquitted Butkevych,» the media claims.

 However, to the delight of the «werewolves in uniform,» his colleague was still sentenced. In Butkevych’s honor, he later offered his unjustly accused colleague a responsible position in his corporation. According to Butkevych, it was this unpleasant incident related to the Ministry of Internal Affairs that led to his firm decision to build a business: a difficult but honest path without bribes and "envelopes."

 

Yuliya or Viktor?

«If you google the query ’Tymoshenko stores,’ it will automatically suggest ’ATB’ in the search. In fact, the company was briefly associated with Yuliya and Yevheniya Tymoshenko, but there is currently no accurate data to confirm this version,» writes «Kompromat 1».

According to Forbes magazine, the company was founded by Hennadiy Butkevych in 1993. Initially, there was no talk of supermarkets (joke or not - a supermarket in ‘93). These were six post-Soviet grocery stores under the management of the newly created "Agrotechbusiness."

In 1998, the company decided to convert the managed stores to a self-service format, and three years later, the "ATB" sign appeared for the first time. The chain positions itself as a discounter: stores with a wide assortment and prices below the market average.

«With each year, Butkevych’s chain gains momentum, despite political and economic crises. By the end of 2010, ATB’s revenue crossed the 10 billion UAH mark. And in 2014, the corporation opened 870 stores. Based on current consumer demand, Hennadiy Butkevych and his partners chose a strategy to develop ATB primarily in the East of the country. Hence, new rumors emerged about a ’deal,’ now not with Tymoshenko, but with Yanukovych, suggesting that Butkevych is a genius negotiator who managed to strike a deal with the ’Donetsk clan.’ Why the persistent rumor about the connection between controversial politicians and Butkevych is still occasionally stirred up in the media remains unclear. Perhaps opponents are trying to give Butkevych’s activities a political tint, but without real facts, rumors remain just rumors,» journalists conclude. 

Who are you, Mr. Butkevych?

If you ask someone on the street who Hennadiy Butkevych is, hardly ten percent would be able to give a somewhat clear answer. Ukrainians are accustomed to knowing their "tycoons" by face or at least by surname. Perhaps Butkevych is more known in Dnipro, but that’s about the extent of his popularity. So, who is he - the owner of the "ATB" chain?

«On his official website, Butkevych positions himself as a businessman, sports patron, and co-founder of ’ATB.’ He is also the founder of the amateur tennis tournament Dnepr Open, which has been held in Ukraine for over 10 years.

He owns the Kyiv family-type equestrian club Equides, where interregional, national, and international competitions are regularly held.

Hennadiy Butkevych sponsors the Ukrainian junior equestrian team. The assets of the ’ATB’ corporation include the ’ATB’ store chain, a logistics complex, the ’Kviten’ confectionery factory, the ’East’ sports club, the ’Favorite Plus’ meat factory, and the ’Equides Club’ equestrian club.

In other words, in his hometown of Dnipro, Butkevych has made a name for himself as a patron and philanthropist thanks to generous contributions to the development of youth sports and various social projects,» the publication notes.

But in April 2015, the surname Butkevych and the ATB brand began to appear in a national-scale controversy related to the sponsorship of... terrorism. 

Butkevych - sponsor or victim of terrorism? 

The military conflict in Donbas brought at least two unpleasant surprises for the ’ATB’ corporation to Butkevych, notes «Kompromat 1».

«The first is a significant loss of assets in the East and Crimea, with damages exceeding 7 billion UAH. According to data provided by the ATB press service, the company lost 152 stores and one state-of-the-art logistics center. Thus, in Donetsk, the ’local authorities’ rebranded ATB, and now stores operate under the sign ’First Republican,’ in Luhansk - as ’Narodni’ supermarkets, and in Crimea - as ’PUD.’

Many ATB employees found themselves among forced displaced persons who lost not only their usual workplace but also personal property, and some even lost loved ones. Butkevych, along with his partners, personally coordinated a project to provide assistance to their employees and their families during relocation,» the publication writes.

The second unpleasant surprise was the bill on the "Nationalization of ATB," submitted in April 2015 to the Verkhovna Rada by the Radical Party.

«Deputies accused Butkevych of sponsoring terrorism, claiming that all his stores ’seized’ by separatists are actually still operating under Butkevych’s control. Later, some deputies made official requests to the Prosecutor General’s Office and the SSU regarding this case, but law enforcement refuted the loud accusations, after which the MPs began withdrawing their signatures one by one, and the bill was never brought up for consideration. In the end, it turned out that the initiator of the scandalous law was the radical Serhiy Rybalka, Butkevych’s former son-in-law and business partner, obsessed with the idea of harming his ex-father-in-law and seizing his considerable assets,» emphasized «Kompromat 1». 

Who does Hennadiy Butkevych actually sponsor? 

The fabricated connections with Tymoshenko, Yanukovych, corrupt officials, and marginal separatists, invented by opponents, do not prevent Butkevych from, albeit not publicly, continuing to invest his finances in those who truly need it, the publication notes.

«In January of this year, the ’ATB’ corporation, together with fighters from volunteer battalions, congratulated children from the ATO zone with New Year’s gifts and helped local authorities in reconstructing a school.

Hennadiy Butkevych does not forget about children from peaceful territories either. In May of this year, an event called ’Family is Cool!’ took place in Dnipro, sponsored by ’ATB.’ Participants of the celebration, which attracted over 5,000 people, set a new Ukrainian record by unfurling a ’Towel of Happy Families’ in the city center, measuring 810 meters in length.

As mentioned earlier, Butkevych actively sponsors sports events, both local and international. In 2007, Butkevych founded the ’ATB’ sports club for children and teenagers. Also, with the corporation’s support, powerlifting athletes have repeatedly won WPA Powerlifting championships. Butkevych pays special attention to equestrian sports.

In fact, Butkevych is the initiator of creating the Ukrainian national team for this sport, and his daughter Daria is a multiple prize-winner in prestigious international competitions,» writes «Kompromat 1». 

 

Two fronts of Hennadiy Butkevych

Hennadiy Butkevych is an experienced businessman of a new format but with old-school resilience. And despite his talent for negotiations, judging by regular attacks in the media, not everyone has Butkevych managed to reach an agreement with. Some covertly or openly fabricate accusations and pour dirt on him, journalists note.

«But with such people, there’s no point in negotiating; they should simply be ignored. But with whom Butkevych has managed to find common ground is ordinary people: residents of Dnipro, ATB staff, athletes, and many others. Even in what seems like an unfavorable position for himself, Hennadiy Butkevych still works on two fronts: developing business and bearing social responsibility,» summed up «Kompromat 1».