Law enforcement officers have notified the former director of the branch “Velykolepetyskyi elevator” of JSC “State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine”, Serhii Hudzovatyi, of suspicion of assisting the aggressor state.
The text of the suspicion was published on the website of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
According to the investigation, the former manager not only headed the seized enterprises but also turned them into a logistical base for the Russian army.
Hudzovatyi’s cooperation with the occupiers began as early as May 2022. Using his experience and knowledge of the state corporation’s assets, he agreed to the Russians’ proposal to “revive” the agricultural sector in the interests of the Russian economy.
The suspect began his “activities” by intimidating his former subordinates. At meetings of the staffs of the Velykolepetyskyi and Bratoliubivskyi elevators, he, using incentives and direct threats, forced employees to return to work under Russian law.
Under Hudzovatyi’s leadership, the occupiers effectively appropriated property complexes, equipment, and grain. Losses for the Velykolepetyskyi elevator alone are estimated at UAH 5.3 million, and for the Bratoliubivskyi — at UAH 110.5 million.
According to the investigation, the elevator in Velyka Lepetykha, by Hudzovatyi’s order, became a military fueling station. On the premises of the enterprise, heavy equipment of the Russian armed forces was serviced and refueled with fuel and lubricants.
In the summer of 2022, Hudzovatyi headed an elevator established by the Russians, and later integrated Ukrainian elevators into the structure of the illegal “Kherson Grain Company”. Hudzovatyi personally controlled every stage: from paying salaries in rubles to loading and transporting Ukrainian grain to Russia.
He is suspected under Part 1 of Article 111-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.