The Ukrainian Security Service has reported that assets of Russian businessman and oligarch Alisher Usmanov amounting to 2 billion hryvnia (€50.9 million) were confiscated, the agency reported via Telegram.
Photo: the Ukrainian Security Service
According to the security service, officers discovered “undercover warehouses” in Ukraine’s sea ports that stored more than 160 tonnes of iron ore for export owned by Usmanov’s company.
“According to the intelligence data, representatives of the aggressor state [Russia] were attempting to illegally ship the hidden commodity to Russia on sea vessels,” the service noted.
Ukraine is currently working on handing over the iron ore to an agency that manages assets accumulated through corruption and other crimes.
Metalloinvest, a holding company owned by Usmanov, has called the seizure of assets “a PR campaign”:
“In reality, Ukraine’s authorities have seized the iron ore manufactured by Metalloinvest in Russia and intended for foreign customers, having zero legal grounds to it. In February 2022, the Ukrainian authorities blocked the export shipment of these ore, which was in transit through Ukrainian territory under existing contracts, in particular, to European consumers,” the company’s commentary says.
Alisher Usmanov is a Russian billionaire who is ranked 7th richest man in Russia according to Forbes and 10th richest British nationals according to The Sunday Times.
After Russia invaded Ukraine, Usmanov was hit with sanctions by the EU, the US, the UK, Japan, Canada, and other countries.
Updated on 10 January 2023: a commentary by Metalloinvest has been added
