Attempt on the owner of "Domino" Anton Shukhnin led to the trail of Viacheslav Belimenko’s gang, which was laundering sanctioned Russian funds in Ukraine

Attempt on the owner of "Domino" Anton Shukhnin led to the trail of Viacheslav Belimenko’s gang, which was laundering sanctioned Russian funds in Ukraine

The attempt on Ukrainian businessman Anton Shukhnin, owner of the "Domino" trademark, highlighted the issue of the growing presence of Russians in Ukrainian business during the war. The suspect Vyacheslav Belimenko is considered a possible organizer of a group of international criminals laundering "dirty" Russian money bypassing sanctions against the Russian Federation.

This is stated in an article on the website "Ukrainian News".

"During the investigation within the framework of an open criminal proceeding, Belimenko’s dealings in Kyiv and the criminal origin of his money became known. Currently, Anton Shukhnin is a victim in two criminal proceedings being investigated by the police of the Pechersk and Shevchenkivsky districts of Kyiv. In both cases, Belimenko is named as a possible organizer of a group of international criminals operating in Ukraine, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, and EU countries, where they launder ’dirty’ money earned in Russia, bypassing sanctions against the Russian Federation," the media reports.

Vyacheslav Belimenko was born in Ukraine, but after the start of the armed Russian aggression, he moved to Moscow, where he obtained a Russian passport and suddenly became wealthy. The publication suggests that this happened due to his connections with Russian sanctioned businesses or Russian special services.

"In general, the name Vyacheslav Belimenko has recently often appeared across the internet. He has been written about not only by Ukrainian but also European media. However, mainly in connection with suspicions of money laundering and various frauds. Thus, the Austrian publication MeinBezirk mentions Belimenko in an investigative article about Russian groups laundering money obtained from drug trafficking and financial fraud by buying elite real estate in prestigious resorts," the material states.

In Ukraine, law enforcement agencies drew attention to Belimenko after the attempted murder of the Ukrainian businessman Anton Shukhnin, the owner of "Domino", who encountered Belimenko’s dealings and turned to the police. Shukhnin himself lost his business in Donetsk in 2014 but later managed to restore it in Kyiv and is now actively helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Belimenko and his accomplices tried to buy assets in Ukraine using fictitious firms and front individuals. Such groups as his may not be the only ones operating in Ukraine, the material says.

"It turns out, while our guys are holding the line on the front, it has already been breached in the rear. People like Belimenko and those who turn a blind eye to their dealings and allow them to buy Ukraine piece by piece," commented serviceman Kyrylo Sazonov.

Currently, it is up to law enforcement agencies. It depends on them whether an end will be put to the dangerous scheme of buying Ukrainian assets and other crimes, the media summarizes.