Links between ex-minister Fedorov and Zhevhago's business and state defence exports

New business partner of the ex-defence minister

In October, former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov became a co-founder of the Ukrainian IT company LLC "BERN AI TI", which was registered on 30 June 2025. The other co-founder of the company was Yevhen Dadiuk. This lawyer serves as the head of the Judicial Practice and Interaction with Regulatory Bodies Department at LLC "METINVEST-HOLDING", which is associated with Rinat Akhmetov's business empire.

Former assistant to a People's Deputy

According to available data, before his appointment to the holding, Dadiuk served as an assistant to People's Deputy Kostiantyn Zhevhago. The politician is wanted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). He is suspected of possibly offering undue advantage to the Chairman of the Supreme Court in the case concerning the Poltava Mining and Beneficiation Combine. A separate criminal case is also being investigated against Zhevhago, related to the "Finance and Credit" bank.

Business empire linked to Zhevhago

Registry information and media publications indicate that Yevhen Dadiuk is affiliated with a number of companies publicly linked to Kostiantyn Zhevhago's business. These include:

• LLC "Salyut Development" (hotel business, 100% share);
• LLC "Kyivsoyuzshlyahproekt" (engineering, share of approximately 90%);
• LLC "Valsa GTV";
• charitable organisations "Rosava-Ukraine" and "Rosava".

Details on LLC "Salyut Development"

The first link in the investigation of these connections was the company LLC "Salyut Development". According to registry data, the director and ultimate beneficiary of the firm is Yevhen Dadiuk. The company's charter capital is 31,590 UAH. The main type of activity is 55.10 "Activities of hotels and similar temporary accommodation facilities". According to the Ycontrol system, the firm is registered at a mass registration address.

Until 2017, the company's main code of economic activity (KVED) was 71.12 "Engineering, geology and geodesy activities, and provision of technical consulting services in these fields". At that time, the ultimate beneficiaries were Kostiantyn Hudov and Eduard Shalaev.

Who are the previous beneficiaries

Eduard Shalaev is known as the owner of chemical and cast iron industry enterprises, as well as the ultimate beneficiary of LLC "FC 'VORSKLA'". Kostiantyn Hudov is a former director and beneficiary of companies engaged in geodesy and brokerage under contracts for securities or goods.

Intersection with state defence exports

Among the individuals linked to LLC "Salyut Development" is Olha Mykolaivna Volodchenko, who is a co-founder of the state enterprise State Defence Industry Enterprise "Spetshtekhnokhsporth". This company specialises in the export and import of military goods and is currently undergoing state reorganisation.

It is known that former heads of "Spetshtekhnokhsporth", including Pavlo Barbul, are on trial in cases involving the misappropriation and laundering of millions of dollars in defence contracts, particularly regarding deals with India. The Anti-Corruption Court is hearing these cases in absentia.

Previously, NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) uncovered a scheme for the misappropriation of over 107.2 million UAH of state enterprise funds from the "Ukroboronprom" group. According to the investigation, the state enterprise engaged a non-resident company to provide intermediary services in foreign economic contracts. However, in fact, all work was performed exclusively by employees of the state enterprise. To launder the funds, they were transferred to the accounts of fictitious companies and subsequently distributed among the members of the criminal group.

Link to "AvtoKRAZ" and defence programmes

Kostiantyn Zhevhago is also under investigation regarding the bankruptcy of the "Finance and Credit" bank and other cases, while hiding in France. Notably, the "AvtoKRAZ" automobile plant, which belonged to Zhevhago for a long time, supplied heavy equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These supplies intersected with state defence orders and military-technical cooperation programmes managed by state exporters such as "Spetshtekhnokhsporth". In November 2022, the state forcibly seized "AvtoKRAZ" into the ownership of the Ministry of Defence.

Open questions

It remains unclear what exactly links the IT company, the hotel business, metallurgy, and the state defence industrial complex. It is also unknown how the business interests of Mykhailo Fedorov, Rinat Akhmetov, Kostiantyn Zhevhago, and Pavlo Barbul could have intersected. The investigation of these connections and the background of the aforementioned structures will continue.