Mr Kurchenko helped large Russian companies and State-owned holdings to bypass EU restrictive measures by acting as their sub-contractor in the Russian-held territories. He has been an intermediary in Russian gas, fuel and electricity exports to the separatist-held parts of Donbas, which strengthened their independent energy supplies and undermined their economic integration with Ukraine. Moreover, he delivered fuel to the illegally occupied Crimean Peninsula. By doing so, he strengthened the independent power supplies of this territory. He also owns the largest oil depot on the Crimean Peninsula.
He thereby benefitted from Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Eastern Ukraine, conducted transactions with the separatist groups in the Donbas region of Ukraine, and actively supported actions and policies which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.
Mr Serhiy Kurchenko is a Ukrainian businessman. With support from pro-Russia separatists, he took control of several large metallurgical, chemical and energy plants in the separatist-held areas of Donbas. His “Gaz-Alliance” company monopolised coal mining in Donbas after its competitors had been forced out of the market, reportedly with help from Russia. He organised and benefitted from the illegal scheme of exporting Donbas coal to Russia and Europe despite EU sanctions. Coal extracted in Mr Kurchenko’s mines has been re-registered and illegally exported via Russian ports.