REVEALED: Roman Abramovich has a large shareholding in the Russian steelmaking firm whose materials are used to make the TANKS which are invading Ukraine, experts claim – as analysts say Chelsea owner transferred his shares eight days before the invasion
- Roman Abramovich has shares in a Russian firm whose steel helps to build tanks which are being used in the war on Ukraine, experts say
- It’s claimed Chelsea owner transferred his shares in EVRAZ to himself last month
- Analysts say the transfer could make them less vulnerable to financial sanctions
- Abramovich has business interests in Ukraine and can ill-afford a prolonged war
Roman Abramovich has a big shareholding in the Russian steelmaking firm whose materials are used to make tanks, experts claim
Roman Abramovich has a large shareholding in the Russian steelmaking firm whose materials experts say are used to make the military tanks which are invading Ukraine.
The Chelsea owner transferred his shares in EVRAZ, the Russian steelmaking giant, directly to himself from an offshore company on February 16, eight days before Vladimir Putin ordered the Ukraine invasion.
Analysts have told Sportsmail that the transfer of the 28.64 per cent shareholding, from Virgin Islands-registered Greenleas International Holdings Ltd, could make it less vulnerable to the sanctions which have followed the invasion. It could also make the shareholding easier to sell. The value of the shares have plummeted since Putin’s forces attacked Ukraine.
Grzegorz Kuczyński, director of the Eurasia Program at the Warsaw Institute, told Sportsmail: ‘There was a risk that this offshore company would become a subject of sanctions. Evraz steel is used to build tanks, amongst other things. The company is important for the Russian arms industry, in this sense. It is important for Russia’s war plans, including with regard to Ukraine.’
Russian tanks – pictured after a drill near Ukraine last month – have been used by president Vladimir Putin in his full-scale military invasion
A spokesperson for Abramovich said EVRAZ in Russia only produced steel for ‘rail and construction.’ In a 2017 document produced by EVRAZ as part of an investigation into steel importation in the US, EVRAZ said its Chicago operations produced ‘several products critical to US National Security… such as armoured plate for US military.’
EVRAZ could not be reached for comment.
The Warsaw Institute, an international relations think tank specializing in Eastern Europe, is uncertain whether Abramovich also owns shares in the Russian oil giant Rosneft, having invested nearly £225million in shares when it floated in 2006. Rosneft is one of Russia’s largest producers of crude oil and another major supplier of its military. The Rosneft website, which includes company details, was not accessible from the UK on Tuesday.
It is understood that Abramovich has used Jewish connections in Ukraine to attempt to broker peace discussions between Russia and the country it has invaded. Abramovich has substantial business interests in Ukraine, with an Evraz plant in the Donbass area of the country since 2010.
Abramovich can ill-afford a prolonged war and sanctions designed to strangle and collapse the entire Russian economy, because he has so much invested in it.
Analysts have told Sportsmail that the transfer of the shares could make it less vulnerable to the sanctions which have followed Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
Abramovich has substantial business interests in Ukraine and can ill-afford a prolonged war
But the view from the ground in Kyiv on Tuesday was that the exercise is entirely futile, because there is simply no common ground between the invading and invaded country.
Russia is demanding international recognition of Crimea, the retention of all lands it has occupied in this invasion and the replacement of the Ukrainian government. None of these demands are remotely acceptable to Ukraine.
Ukraine wants Russian troops out of its country and an exchange of POWs and dead troops. But Russia does not recognise there POWs and dead troops to swap.
Abramovich announced on Saturday that ‘stewardship and care’ of Chelsea was being given to trustees of the club’s charitable foundation
But Sportsmail understands that the six trustees will insist on a rock-solid insurance policy before agreeing to the 55-year-old’s plan, with a number of them still extremely apprehensive about accepting stewardship at all.
One of the main conditions trustees would insist on is the inclusion of a robust indemnity insurance policy, to ensure they are not liable for any financial ramifications the club may suffer while they are put in charge.
Chelsea are aware of the problems they may face in convincing trustees and are thought to be exploring other options, including a holding company being set-up to take on stewardship responsibilities instead.
Advertisement
