Rinat Akhmetov
Those running to "defend their mines from the Banderites" should think about the meaning of "theirs," "mine," and "Akhmetov's." Now the defenders are kicking themselves, realizing that they have transformed from respected miners into a gang and Akhmetov's personal army, protecting his property.
In autumn, the leaves fall. Beautiful. Heartwarming. I look at them and make a wish: I want this autumn to see the masks fall off all the "heroes" of the war, the puppeteers and financiers of terrorism in Ukraine, for all these Lyn-Yurys and Dyn-Yurys to crumble and vanish into thin air.
And they say you can count your chickens in the fall. I don't know, I don't know. Pro-Ukrainian citizens who don't want to live in Akhmetstan or the feudal republic of Lydynir have been counting, marking, writing, and following "Akhmetov's golden trail" since May 2014.
Let me explain. Since May 2014, the moment of the occupation, patriotic miners have been marking coal cars leaving DTEK mines... for Russia.
Those who observed the war from the very beginning, who were immersed in the heat of the psychological warfare, will say with absolute certainty: "War is business, war is Akhmetov." I don't know why, but there, in Donbas, the political aspects of the war faded into the background even before December 2014... The commercialization of war took center stage.
I remember how they rounded up and dismantled the first militia in Sverdlovsk. People were roused not by the language issue, not by the division into "Skhid" and "Zakhid," Orthodox and Banderites. They listened to this propaganda, but only half-heartedly, dismissing it as political games and going to work. They only rose to their feet when DTEK representatives spoke out and declared the "Kyiv junta"'s intention to seize the mines from Akhmetov and hand them over to Kolomoisky, to fire the miners, and to make their jobs available to "unemployed" residents of Western Ukraine.
At times, it seemed as if this entire Novorossiysk riot was a cover for something larger, or more prosaic. But what?
What was surprising was that in each city, the campaigning was tailored to local problems and mentalities. Even the core values were different for each city. In May 2014, every Donbas resident who participated in the referendum voted for something they saw and felt personally. Now, every city in Donbas has its own war.
Ever since the Soviet era, miners have been taught that these are their mines. The mine is our home, the team is our family! – that's the formula for a miner's life. The miners treasured "their" mines so much that they forgot one fact: some mines belong to the Ukrainian state, some have already become private enterprises, and others are leased by Akhmetov.
Those running to "defend their mines from the Banderites" should think about the meaning of "theirs," "mine," and "Akhmetov's." Now the defenders are kicking themselves, realizing that they have transformed from respected miners into a gang and Akhmetov's personal army, protecting his property.
Not a single Akhmetov enterprise was looted or is subject to closure. Not a single one. The LPR-DPR Ministry decided to close 10 mines and lay off more than 1500 miners (not counting maintenance personnel).
But state-owned enterprises are being shut down and scrapped. Meanwhile, the number of "kopankas" is growing. What's happening to Donbas coal? Are terrorists really being financed by coal oligarchs? Are Donbas mines really closing? Who are the miners "protecting" from whom? Is there a future for Ukraine's coal industry? Will Ukraine learn to profit from and value its resources? Is there a future for Donbas without Ukraine? Is there a future for Donbas with Ukraine?
There are a lot of letters. It's difficult to read. Read it, those who care about Ukraine, who can help, and for whom this is important. I'll try to describe the schemes, ask questions, and answer those already raised. I know that people are reading this in Ukraine and Europe. Perhaps the anthracite trail of war will be picked up by the services that can unravel it.
Part 1: The Anthracite Trace of War. DTEK LLC and its twins.
The company LLC DTEK, which gained control over the largest coal mining holdings Sverdlovantratsit and Rovenkiantartsit, has coal mining and enrichment enterprises officially registered in the Russian Federation.
In 2012, DTEK completed its first acquisition of coal assets outside of Ukraine, completing the purchase of three mines and a processing plant from Rostov Anthracite. The deal included the acquisition of corporate rights to OJSC Obukhovskaya Shakhtoupravlenie (the Obukhovskaya mine and processing plant), OJSC Donskoy Anthracite (the Dalnyaya mine), and LLC Sulinantratsit (mine No. 410, currently mothballed). The transaction amount was not disclosed.
All the enterprises are located in the Rostov region of the Russian Federation. When I began my war in 2009, trying to resist Akhmetov's seizure of strategic companies, I drew attention to this fact. But there was nothing illegal about it. The Ukrainian oligarch has the right to register enterprises anywhere in the world, according to the laws of the country where he conducts business.
When I went to Gukovo in August 2014 (I wrote about this in my story "Autobiography of War. The Road to Gukovo"), I met with residents of Gukovo who told me not only that we, the people of Sverdlovsk, were being shelled with GRAD rockets by Russia from their city, and not only that wounded members of the opposition and soldiers of the Russian army occupied their entire hospital, depriving the townspeople of beds, but also that they, the workers of the Obukhovskaya Central Processing Plant, process Ukrainian coal and are highly dependent on it, since they do not have their own coal.
There is no coal mining in the Russian Federation, in the town of Gukovo, where DTEK LLC's companies are located. No! Having learned this and putting the pieces together, I, along with the guys who work in Akhmetov's mines but support a united and indivisible Ukraine (and even with those who advocated for a federal Donbas without oligarchs within Ukraine), began tracking coal deliveries from Sverdlovsk.
Some of the mined coal (lower quality, low ash content, and fine coal) went to the unoccupied part of Ukraine (Schastye), some to Dnepropetrovsk and Kryvyi Rih. But the majority of the anthracite went to Russia. How? Why?
How? How could the cargo cross the border when Ukraine officially declared it impossible to control it, removing the checkpoints. Does that mean the cargo from Akhmetov's DTEK crossed the border undetected?! Does that mean the company didn't pay (or doesn't pay) customs duties to Ukraine, which means it's breaking the law and reaping excess profits?!
Did Ukraine, its fiscal or customs authorities investigate this matter?! No!
Up to eighty train cars of coal were (are) shipped daily. Ukrainian coal. To Russia. Customs-free. Until now. If any of my readers are financiers or customs officials who know the customs rates, please calculate Ukraine's losses and the excess profits DTEK LLC is making from the war.
DTEK LLC has repeatedly stated in the media that coal is being exported to Russia, saying, "Help, we're being robbed, at least we're exporting it this way." And they've also threatened to shut down the thermal power plants entirely if you interfere.
But is it for Ukrainian thermal power plants that coal is exported to Russia?
After crossing the uncontrolled border, coal from DTEK (Ukraine) is shipped to a DTEK (Russia) facility and becomes Russian coal. Then, coal of the AO and AKO grades is sold to Ukraine and EU countries. And according to the documents, this coal is mined in Russia. Perhaps to cheat Russians by paying customs duties, the coal is imported using Russian certificates from DTEK (Russia), as if it had already been mined in Russia.
Surprisingly, since the war, DTEK (Russia) companies have increased their supplies of the most sought-after coal grades to the EU and Mediterranean markets. So, the simple and straightforward scheme for plundering Ukraine is clear.
Yanukovych and the Verkhovna Rada passed a law allowing for concessions on strategic coal mining enterprises. (The law has still not been repealed, although all experts agree on its absurdity and the dubious nature of concession agreements.)
Ukraine is leasing its coal (a strategic raw material in demand in European markets) on a concession (lease). Akhmetov, having received the coal companies absolutely free of charge, mines Ukrainian coal, sells it to Ukraine, and blackmails Ukraine.
Having gained control over the border and the territory of cities where coal enterprises are located, Akhmetov exports anthracite from Ukraine without paying taxes and fees, customs clearance and sells it in the EU as Russian coal (DTEK LLC provides a Russian certificate for partners in EU countries and the Mediterranean).
And again, it is legal, since the coal is provided with certificates and accompanying documents from the Russian Federation (remember that DTEK LLC has coal enterprises registered in the Russian Federation).
DTEK LLC pays taxes to the Russian budget for anthracite “mined in the Russian Federation,” since its Obukhovskaya coal processing plant “mines and enriches Russian coal mined in Gukovo.”
Moreover, the costs of laundering these funds in Russia are simply laughable compared to the profit Akhmetov receives from this material on the European market, given the cost of, say, mining and enriching one ton of coal in Ukraine. The profit from export sales can range from 70-110%.
But...there is no anthracite coal mining in the Rostov region. All the mines in Gukovo have closed. Yes, DTEK LLC has registered mines in Rostov, Novocherkassk, and Gukovo, but they don't mine coal; only the coal washing plant (CWP) operates.
The company's astonishing lie, as revealed by CEO Maksym Timchenko, guarantees... an improvement in the sulfur content of anthracite coal mined in Ukraine by blending it with coal mined in Russia. However, no coal is imported from Russia to Ukraine. Nor is it mined at the Russian enterprises acquired by DTEK LLC. "The acquisition of coal assets that produce low-sulfur coal allows DTEK to meet future demand for products from DTEK Sverdlovanthracite and DTEK Rovenkyanthracite and effectively guarantees the future utilization of DTEK's Ukrainian anthracite mines. Reducing the sulfur content in the overall product portfolio strengthens the prospects for Ukrainian coal consumption in the domestic market, especially given stricter environmental standards and sulfur emissions requirements," I quote Maksym Timchenko.
"The sale of high-sulfur coal from DTEK's Ukrainian mines, along with low-sulfur coal from the Obukhovskaya and Dalnyaya mines, will also create an export-quality portfolio that will generally comply with EU sulfur content standards (less than 1%). Thus, Ukraine will be able to meet the European market's need for anthracite, up to 2,5 million tons annually, following the closure of mines in Germany and England.
"The acquisition of enterprises in the Rostov region will expand DTEK's resource base and ensure improved coal quality for Ukrainian thermal power plants, which is particularly important for preventing energy shortages during the winter. "We will be able to increase the efficiency of power generation at thermal power plants and, most importantly, significantly reduce harmful emissions," DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko commented on the acquisition of the new assets.
That is, high-quality anthracite from Ukraine will be mixed with low-quality coal from Russia and sold... to the EU.
But...what will be mined in Russia if the mines of the acquired enterprises located in the Russian Federation are mothballed?
DTEK LLC, the trading company for international anthracite trading, is registered in Cyprus. This is not mentioned on the company's official website. The company's website also conceals information about sales to EU and Mediterranean countries, reporting only on sales to the Ukrainian market and exports to CIS countries through DTEK Trading LLC and DTEK Power Trade LLC. DTEK Hungary Power Trade LLC is responsible for developing trade in electricity and other energy products in Hungary. DTEK Trading SA was established in June 2013 to secure direct access to European energy markets and ensure transparent sales to end consumers. The "defenders" of "their" mines work for rations, without the right to strike, the Labor Code, or a trade union. They no longer have free travel vouchers or other privileges.
The company's website also conceals the presence of DTEK LLC coal processing plants in Russia. Why is this information hidden? The average salary of a miner (at the Dolzhanskaya-Kapitalnaya mine) before the war was 25,000 hryvnias. Now, this same "defender" earns 5000 hryvnias. Wages are over six months in arrears. Miners are paid 20% of their salary to keep them afloat.
Ukraine, having leased out its strategic reserves (it's like giving away your ice cream and getting the stick back), doesn't receive even a cent from coal sales to EU and Mediterranean countries, and now doesn't receive hryvnias for customs clearance of anthracite.
And coal is in demand. DTEK's partner companies have been purchasing coal for years, using dollars and euros, which are outside the Ukrainian budget. Akhmetov pays only a few thousand hryvnias for the concession (rent). And even then, these territories are now occupied, meaning there's no place to pay the concession fee, as the city budgets are closed.
Of course he's "buzzing." Here, when something is "obtained" outside the budget, there's always a patriotic buzz. He's also a "humanitarian." Kindergartens regularly receive so-called "faggot" campaign hats, colored pencils, bleach, paper, and Chinese-made rattles. These "humanitarian" products are handed out on camera to his inner circle of socially concerned individuals, who sing "Hallelujah to Akhmetov" at rallies and protests in support. Everything else goes to Brusnichka.
For many years, DTEK has been signing contracts for the supply of annual volumes (!!!) of graded anthracite to virtually all steelmaking plants in Eastern European countries (Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, etc.) as well as Mediterranean and North African countries (Egypt, Morocco, etc.)
To understand the scale of profit and theft in Ukraine, I will give an example.
The needs of just two steel plants in Poland and Slovakia vary between 20-25 thousand tons of culm (fraction 0-6 mm or 0-13 mm) and up to 10-15 thousand tons of grade (Ac, AM, AKO/AO) per month with an average price at the border from 70 to 80 $/mt for culm and up to 140 $ for grade.
This is the math and the amount for only two or three customers, and DTEK LLC has dozens! So, having signed an annual contract for the supply of such coal, the issue of volume is no longer an issue. With virtually free coal in Ukraine under your belt, you don't have to worry about anything at all. A simple calculation based on the selling price (subtracting transportation and tax fees in Russia, plus transportation and transshipment costs in Ukraine) yields a net profit that could support both the LPR and DPR, with all their militias and tanks, for years.
So, we're looking at an international financial pyramid that can freely finance terrorism. Why isn't Ukraine concerned? Why haven't all the laws passed by the Verkhovna Rada during Yanukovych's time and signed by him been repealed as corrupt? Why hasn't Yanukovych's government, with its "betrayal," been declared criminals, and its actions recognized as having harmed Ukraine?
Why are we so boldly throwing away euro-dollar resources? Why, having leased our wealth to Akhmetov, are we in no hurry to take it back? Are we waiting for a popsicle stick? Why does Ukraine benefit from being a deaf-blind weakling in the coal industry?
Only the illegal crossing of DTEK LLC's cargo and customs duty evasion can lead to criminal prosecution. What next?
Then contact Interpol, submit documents and requests to EU financial institutions, conduct an examination of the coal "mined in the Russian Federation," and report international terrorism and theft of Ukraine's strategic resources.
I believe that DTEK's international partner companies, having learned that they are buying coal and thus financing Donbas terrorists, will provide maximum assistance to the Ukrainian side. If there were any interest, there isn't!
Not a single political force in Ukraine has raised the issue of the legality of the concession of Ukraine's strategic coal enterprises. That's the price of politics and politicians!
Everything will be Ukraine
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