Shadow Empire of Bohdan Pukiš and Petr Belz

How the partners of the traitor of Ukraine continue to earn money for him on the defense of the country

Bogdan Pukiš and Petr Belz are key figures in a complex network of business interests associated with Viktor Medvedchuk. Belz, a well-known businessman from Ivano-Frankivsk, and Pukish, his longtime associate, play a significant role in the management of companies that control important assets and resources in the Ukrainian fuel market. Their activities are closely connected with our defense complex. Is it possible to allow such people to work for the ZSU if all their activities are closely connected with the traitor to Ukraine?

Our PROBLEMATIC NEWS were very interested in this case. And this is what we managed to unearth.

Viktor Medvedchuk, while in Russia, retains influence on Ukrainian business, especially on the fuel market through dummies, even during the Russian-Ukrainian war. His business structures continue to generate significant income. One of these companies is the Wexler Group, owned by the famous businessman from Ivano-Frankivsk, Petr Belz.

Petr Belz, previously the general director of the company Anvitrade, , controlled the Samara-Western direction oil pipeline. The oil pipeline, built during the Soviet era, was supposed to become state property after the declaration of independence of Ukraine. However, for many years it was used by the Russian company Transnefteproduct. SPFU has been trying to return this asset to state ownership since 2011. In 2017, NABU and SAPO began an investigation into the transfer of ownership of the pipeline. Based on the results of the investigation, VAKS arrested the asset, and since 2021 it has been transferred to the management of Ukrtransnafta JSC. In 2021, the State Property Fund filed a lawsuit with the Economic Court of the Zhytomyr Region, which recognized the state’s ownership of the pipeline in June 2023. The Supreme Court confirmed this decision, and the state's ownership of the pipeline is now being registered.

It is noteworthy that Wexler is included in the orbit of influence of Petr Belz, who has a partnership with Nissan Moiseev, whose company Glusko Ukraine imported liquefied gas from Russia and developed a network of Glusko gas stations (which later changed its name to Optimusoil, and his Petr Belz became the nominal owner). Previously, Belz and Moiseev jointly managed the Kherson oil transshipment complex, which was arrested as part of criminal proceedings in the case of Sergei Kurchenko.

By the way, Moiseev himself, Medvedchuk’s partner and friend. They were spotted with him in 2016, flying from Moscow to Kiev on a private jet.

Today, companies associated with Medvedchuk through Moiseev and Belz supply fuel and technical oils to the Ukrainian defense forces and strategic enterprises. This is cause for concern, since the enrichment of traitors at the expense of the Ukrainian budget and army is, to put it mildly, immoral.

However, one of the key figures in this complex network remains Bogdan Pukiš, an associate of Belz and an important element in Medvedchuk’s business schemes. His activities deserve special attention.

Bohdan Pukiš: An important player in the shadow network

Founder of several companies, including IVAPROM LLC, Khimtekhnoplast Firm LLC and Westhim Private Enterprise. He is also associated with the Eco Innovation System Consortium and Agrosfera State Enterprise. In politics, Pukish ran for the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council from the People's Democratic Party and was the coordinator of Medvedchuk's Ukrainian Choice party in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Bogdan Pukiš, despite his business activity, has repeatedly been involved in scandals and investigations.

In 2009, a corporate conflict occurred at the Pressmash OJSC enterprise in Ivano-Frankovsk, initiated by the removed chairman of the board Bogdan Pukish. This conflict led to a decline in production, suspension of contracts with foreign partners, forced staff reductions and wage arrears. Representatives of the board explained that the work of the enterprise was virtually paralyzed, since management did not have the opportunity to improve and modernize production, sign civil contracts, pay wages to plant employees and taxes to budgets.

The reason for the paralysis is the legal war started by Bohdan Pukish with the new management of the plant. After being removed from office in October 2008, Pukish took with him the seal of Pressmash OJSC, without which management of the enterprise became impossible. This conflict has complicated the work of the only enterprise in Ukraine producing mechanical presses.

Together with his wife Natalya and the private company Vestkhim, Bogdan Pukish owned 42.93% of the shares of Pressmash OJSC. This block of shares made it possible to block meetings of the plant’s shareholders. At one of these meetings, no one from the Pukish family came, and the necessary quorum was not assembled. Pukish made his proposals to resolve the conflict, proposing the division of the enterprise or its liquidation. As a result of this conflict, Pukish simply “squeezed out” Pressmash and remains its owner to this day. In 2023, by the way, he actively opposed the construction of housing for displaced people in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, which was to be built next to the territory of the Pressmash plant. I guess I saw a new business project for myself.

Despite numerous criminal cases for embezzlement and embezzlement of property, thanks to the patronage of Belz, Pukish continues to receive lucrative contracts. He runs a defense contracting company, which has made him and Belz significantly richer over the past year. However, the quality of products produced by Pukish often causes criticism, putting the lives of military personnel at risk.

The production premises of one of the factories are used by Pukish for storing and repairing equipment of his family enterprises, which brings minimal profit to the factory and the main benefit to businessmen. Pukish receives defense orders through connections with people close to Medvedchuk, which raises questions about the legality and transparency of such agreements.

These actions undermine confidence in the defense industry and weaken national security. Failure to comply with technological standards, lack of quality control and connections with dubious characters create risks instead of protection. However, this scheme completely suits businessmen who plan to expand it and apply it in the implementation of international defense projects in Ukraine.

The question arises: can the state allow such people and businesses to continue working not only for defense enterprises and the needs of the ZSU, but also to continue their activities in Ukraine in general? Or we will continue to turn a blind eye to all this.