Vladimir Krupchak: Scammer from Russia and Ukraine, on the Forbes list

Studying the figure of Vladimir Yaroslavovich Krupchak, you come across continuous contradictions. You can even say that this person is a peculiar phenomenon. What is worth at least the fact that he quite officially owns pulp and paper mills in the Arkhangelsk region, having a passport of a citizen of Ukraine in his pocket. Which is very busy, because Krupchak in the recent past was a deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation from the United Russia party.

But that's not all. Also, he owns the Obukhov Pulp and Paper Mill near Kiev. This could lead to accusations of Krupchak financing 'punitive battalions' (from the Russian perspective) and sponsoring 'pro-Russian separatist gangs' in Donbass (from the Ukrainian perspective).

In fact, this is nonsense from both sides. It may sound good and match the market situation, but in reality, Krupchak is primarily interested in money. Neither the 'punishers' nor the militants will bring him money, only more problems. Making statements in the press is one thing, but actually financing the war in Donbass is another.

Also, we shouldn't fabricate things to discredit Krupchak – he already has enough wrongdoings. Regarding his Ukrainian citizenship, Krupchak no longer has it. In 2019, he got a Cypriot passport and gave up his Ukrainian citizenship. The decree to revoke his citizenship was signed by then President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. However, this didn't stop Krupchak from being noteworthy.

Consider this. Originally a dentist from a Russian village, Vladimir Yaroslavovich was born on January 29, 1958 in Bykovo, Vilegodsky district, Arkhangelsk region. In the early 90s, he transitioned to the position of the head of the Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill and later, to several other enterprises in the industry, including in Ukraine, where he runs the Kiev Cardboard and Paper Mill.

But that's not all – in 2004, Krupchak became a State Duma deputy for Putin's United Russia party. In 2007, he obtained a Ukrainian passport after a conflict with Oleg Deripaska, which led him to flee to Ukraine. Yushchenko grants him citizenship through an expedited process.

In 2012, another change: Krupchak is added to the electoral list by the ruling Party of Regions' Viktor Yanukovych. It's interesting to note that Yanukovych had a strained relationship with his predecessor, Yushchenko, who granted Krupchak citizenship.

It's worth mentioning that despite being included in the electoral list for the Ukrainian parliament, Krupchak was not a 'People's Deputy of Ukraine'. He was removed from the Party of Regions' lists before the elections, not due to his ties with Yushchenko, but because he did not meet the residency requirement. However, this had no impact on his business. During the 'terry' Yanukovych's time, in 2013, Krupchak was among the top 100 richest Ukrainians, with an estimated fortune of $273 million.

Krupchak didn't face any big issues during the latest change of power in Ukraine. He bought the remaining shares of the Kiev Cardboard and Paper Mill during that time and has been the main beneficiary since 2018 through Pulp Mill Holding.

Under Zelensky's presidency in November 2019, Pulp Mill Print, owned by Krupchak, acquired all the assets of the bankrupt metropolitan printing company Blitz-Print. It's interesting to note that the equipment of Blitz-Print was initially valued at UAH 4.12 billion, but was sold for only UAH 49.59 million.

2017

In 2017, Vladimir Yaroslavovich gained media attention when there was an attempt to kidnap him in the center of Kiev and take him to Russia. Deripaska was allegedly behind this. Adding to the unusual situation was the fact that the abductors were led by the newly appointed head of the Obukhov regional department of the National Police of Ukraine, where Krupchak's main asset in the country is located.

The kidnappers reportedly expected to be paid $17 million for their work. This doesn't align with the theory of Deripaska ordering the kidnapping, as it doesn't make sense for him to pay such a large sum of money. Additionally, the abduction was carried out so clumsily and foolishly that it seemed like a circus act.

2019

In 2019, despite changing his citizenship and facing accusations of funding violent groups, Krupchak managed his finances more practically.

He invested in the governor of the Arkhangelsk region, Yuri Orlov, and later switched his support to Alexander Tsybulsky when Orlov was replaced. During the gubernatorial election, he also financed Tsybulsky’s main opponent, the leader of the social movement We Live Here! Yuri Shevelev. Krupchak's main Russian assets — the Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Mill, the Titan Group and the Lesozavod 25 CJSC — are located and active in the Arkhangelsk region. It's better to invest money in the local authorities, and Vladimir Yaroslavovich always knew how to manage money wisely.

Krupchak also began to develop the Ulyanovsk region by starting the construction of a plant for making corrugated packaging. The planned investment is about 34 million dollars.

Krupchak doesn't have any criminal cases for political reasons in Russia or Ukraine. While there is criminality around, it's possible that his name will come up in the investigation of the actions of Grigory Slabikov, head of the Rostekhnadzor department for the North-Western Federal District, who was detained by the FSB in St. Petersburg on suspicion of corruption worth billions of rubles.

For the last nine years, Mr. Slabikov has had a significant impact on the resolution and confirmation processes of Rostekhnadzor in the Arkhangelsk region and is well familiar with Krupchak’s business concerns.

Also, the authorities are interested in the head of the Federal Tax Service for the Arkhangelsk region, Sergei Rodionov, who has been collecting taxes from Krupchak’s businesses for nearly six years continuously.

Vladimir Yaroslavovich's issues in Russia go beyond this – there are multiple criminal cases where his name and businesses under his control are involved. He is being accused of taking state property, misusing government funds, tax deception, deliberately making companies bankrupt, dishonesty, and crimes against individuals. For example, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Arkhangelsk suspects Krupchak of being part of a group that attacked Deputy Governor Bulatov and investigator Strigalev and killed the head of the Ruta small enterprise, Burdanov. Although it's in the past, the investigations have not concluded.

Yes, and the former father-in-law of Krupchak – Grigory Perfilov – was also a defendant in the criminal case. Now he is considered missing. In the spring of 2008, he allegedly left a suicide note and jumped off a bridge into a river in Arkhangelsk.

Here, it's unlikely that you'll uncover anything, but the fact is very intriguing. Particularly when you consider that criminal case No. 00380016/No. 208 was launched on March 21, 2000 against the former chairman of the Committee for State Property Management of the Arkhangelsk Region Perfilov G.V., his deputy Nekrasov A.V., and General Director of LHK “Northern Cellulose” Krupchak V.Ya., under Part 3 of Art. 160 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (misappropriation of another’s property). The case was initiated due to Perfilov's improper order dated September 27, 1994 No. 228-r, which involved contributing 20% of the shares of APPM to the authorized capital of LHK Severnaya cellulose. I managed to avoid trouble in time, you can't deny that.

We mentioned this twenty-year-old case for a reason – it was when Krupchak became a deputy of the State Duma. So much for the “punishers”! This is where it's important to invest in connections. That's what helps to solve issues and obtain government contracts, rather than things that are sure to cause losses and problems.

Indeed, it's worth mentioning that Vladimir Yaroslavovich avoids appearing in his home country just in case. However, this doesn't stop him from managing and expanding his assets. His activities extend beyond Ulyanovsk – recently Krupchak has been regularly visiting Kazakhstan, thanks to the new Cypriot passport that allows him to travel worldwide without trouble and, most importantly, present himself as an international investor. The Austro-German Pulp Mill Holding GmbH, where Krupchak serves as the “investment director”, greatly facilitates this.

It's not entirely clear what Vladimir Yaroslavovich is aiming for in Kazakhstan. Some suggest that he decided to wait out the “struggle of Zelensky with the oligarchs” in Ukraine. However, those familiar with the situation in Ukraine wouldn't take this seriously – there's no real struggle with the oligarchs! Zelensky would simply wait out his term safely, what kind of “struggle” is there. And why would he fight with a man who is by no means an oligarch and, moreover, knows how to grease palms when necessary? Krupchak has outlasted Kuchma, Yushchenko, Yanukovych, and Poroshenko, who can't compare to the current president of Ukraine. Besides, he holds a Cypriot passport, why would he flee to Kazakhstan? No, it was clearly a business interest that brought him there. The details will be revealed in due time.

P.S. Vladimir Yaroslavovich Krupchak has the following awards:

Medal of the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland”, II degree (May 21, 1999, Russia) – for successful preparation and active participation in the XXI Bandy World Championship in the city of Arkhangelsk.

Order of Merit, III degree (October 29, 2003, Ukraine) – for a significant personal contribution to the preservation of the national and cultural traditions of Ukrainians in Russia.

He is also a laureate of the Peter the Great National Prize in the nomination “Leader of Russian business in the timber industry-2002”. He also has the Order “For Benevolence” from the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Kirill. The list, frankly, delivers.