NABU-detained coal trader Kovalenko 'covers' business of ex-SBU employee Artem Shilo

Link between detained trader and ex-SBU employee

Researchers at the Centre for Countering Corruption (CPC) found that Dmytro Kovalenko, who was detained by NABU and the SAP, has interests in the gas sector and is named in a criminal case regarding the possible fronting of the business of former SBU employee Artem Shilo. This is stated in a CPC statement released during monitoring of data on companies holding special permits for subsoil use.

Subsoil permits and Kovalenko's business history

Data from the State Register of Special Permits for Subsoil Use and the Unified Register of Legal Entities indicates that Kovalenko is the beneficial owner of LLC "Soiuz-budresursy". This entity holds special permit No. 6458 for the use of oil and gas subsoil resources at the Yarmakivske deposit in Poltava Oblast. Kovalenko is also the beneficial owner of LLC "Navigator Maynytske", which holds special permit No. 4769 for the use of subsoil resources (oil and gas) at the Maynytske deposit in Lviv Oblast.

Kovalenko entered the extraction market after the Maidan, positioning himself as the "beneficial owner of the Adelon group of companies" and a "leading international coal trader".

Details of the criminal case

According to media reports, Dmytro Kovalenko was detained by NABU and the SAP in Uzhhorod in March 2026. The "Judicial Power" website and the Unified Register of Court Decisions confirm that this occurred within the framework of criminal case No. 52025000000000074.

According to the investigation's version, an individual who worked at the SBU from August 2022 to March 2024 as the head of Directorate "I" for the protection of critical infrastructure facilities was the informal beneficial owner of agricultural firms: LLC "Ahrarna Elevatorna Kompaniia", LLC "Sybkor Pryluky", and LLC "Grain Terminal Ltd". US$5.8 million of the SBU employee's personal funds, which the investigation claims were acquired in a suspicious manner, was invested in this business. The surname Shilo is explicitly mentioned in the court register, referring to the former adviser to the Office of the President and ex-SBU employee Artem Shilo.

Ownership structure and partners

The beneficial owner of all the companies listed above is Dmytro Kovalenko's son, Danylo Kovalenko. Only these firms have recently changed their names: "Ahrarna Elevatorna Kompaniia" became LLC "Hranova Myrhorod", LLC "Grain Terminal LTD" was renamed to LLC "Hranova Krasnopavlivka", and LLC "Sybkor Pryluky" to LLC "Hranova Pryluky".

Kovalenko's partner in LLC "Soiuz-budresursy" is Hanna Probilova, the daughter of Serhiy Probilov. Probilov is a long-time business partner of former MP Vitaliy Danilov from the "Batkivshchyna" party, and served as his assistant in 2012–2014 (during the 7th convocation).