Alleged corruption schemes tied to Granova Ukraine and businessman Dmytro Kovalenko are under investigation by Ukraine’s Bureau of Economic Security.

The probe concerns suspected tax evasion through export operations conducted using cash payments.

According to criminal case No. 42024170000000045 (Part 3, Article 212 of the Criminal Code), BES says a group operating in Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions systematically purchased agricultural products for cash, then оформed them through companies deemed “high-risk” and exported the goods without repatriating foreign currency proceeds, thereby evading taxes.

Granova Ukraine exports agricultural products to more than 12 countries via the ports of Izmail, Chornomorsk, Yuzhny, and Odesa. The group includes Granova Pryluky, Granova Krasnopavlivka, Granova Myrhorod, and Granova Ukraine. All share the same core activity (“warehousing”), a common founder—Afex Investments Limited—and co-founder Danylo Kovalenko, the businessman’s son.

One of Granova Ukraine’s founders—Serhii Tyhlyi or Viacheslav Melentiev—is, according to operational information, the head of security for Kovalenko.

Investigators established that 1.28 thousand tonnes of corn were purchased in cash for Granova Ukraine without being recorded in any company’s accounts. Subsequently, Velykobahachanskyi Feed Mill registered a tax invoice for the transaction.

Tax analysis shows that on May 17, 2024, the plant issued a VAT invoice to Granova Ukraine for Class 3 corn totaling UAH 9 million (including UAH 1.12 million VAT). The invoice was registered on June 18, the last permissible day, which BES says may indicate a fictitious operation.

Further analysis found that between August 2023 and June 2024, the plant recorded sales to Granova Ukraine of 14.1 thousand tonnes of wheat and corn worth UAH 83.54 million (including UAH 10.2 million VAT), while purchases of 12.4 thousand tonnes worth UAH 74.14 million (including UAH 9.10 million VAT) were also recorded.

Based on these findings, investigators believe the details of Velykobahachanskyi Feed Mill (code 00687385) and its private enterprise (code 32738656) were used to documentarily legalize unaccounted grain in favor of Granova Ukraine (code 44868696).

The BES investigation is ongoing.