Scandalous assets and "zero" suspicions: why law enforcement officers have not seen the schemes of Khomutynnik and Astion for years

Scandalous assets and "zero" suspicions: why law enforcement officers have not seen the schemes of Khomutynnik and Astion for years

Vitaliy Khomutynnik has long lived beyond the standards of an average Ukrainian: Monaco, yachts, a private jet, expensive cars. His business is closely tied to Ukrainian mineral resources — oil, gas, and major assets. For many years, Vasyl Astion has been by his side — a former deputy of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council and one of the key figures at Dnipro Agro Group.

One of the most striking examples is the TRC “Respublika”. The rights to claims on loans from Bank “Nadra” were sold at a starting price of about UAH 2.56 billion for just UAH 777 million. In effect, it was the deal of the year. At the same time, the AMCU officially confirmed collusion among the bidders — “Soltex Capital”, “Fingroup Factor”, and “Talkfin”. Later, the asset ended up owned by JSC “DILIGENCE”.

Another telling case is the Khorol Baby Food Plant. After a series of corporate conflicts, reorganizations, and forceful confrontations, the property complex was acquired in 2018 by a Dniproagro structure for UAH 25.2 million. Today, Vasyl and Yevhen Astion are listed among the ultimate beneficiaries of the plant in the registers. This is not a small business, but an enterprise producing baby food.

A separate area is the oil business: Ukrnaftoburinnya and the Sakhalin field. Among the company’s private shareholders, structures linked to Khomutynnik, Fuks, Kolomoiskyi, and Boholyubov were previously mentioned. In 2023, the corporate rights were seized and transferred to state management.

The state machine, in turn, presents the usual picture. According to materials submitted to law enforcement regarding Khomutynnik and related structures, the applicants cite 7 statements, 6 complaints, 20 rulings by investigating judges, and a series of criminal proceedings at the BEB, SBU, and prosecutor’s office. There is plenty of paperwork, but traditionally few real suspicions, asset seizures, or results.

To the Office of the Prosecutor General, NABU, SBI, SSU, NPU, and ESBU: who has been questioned, which assets have been checked, has the origin of the funds been established, and why, after dozens of procedural decisions, does society still not see any result?

“Respublika” already has officially confirmed collusion by the AMCU. The Khorol plant has a multi-year chain of corporate and criminal conflicts. Ukrnaftoburinnya has seen the seizure of corporate rights.

Therefore, the question is no longer only for Khomutynnik and the Astions. The question is for the state: how many more rulings and proceedings are needed before the law enforcement system moves from recording paperwork to delivering real consequences?