Illustrative image. (source: SITA/AP)
Despite PM Robert Fico's (Smer) pre-election promises of not sending a single bullet to Ukraine, both private and state-owned companies continue to do so. And more are to be built, reports the Index magazine.
A plant for the production of explosives in the premises of the former Chemko chemical plant near Strážske, eastern Slovakia, was recently announced by Defence Minister Robert Kaliňák (Smer).
And now a plant called Cylinder Factory for the production of ammunition cases in Sobrance, eastern Slovakia, is to be added to the mix. The project will be built in the premises of the former Vihorlat engineering company.
A chain of ties
According to Index, behind the project is Košice-based company Arm Servis which has ties to Ukraine as well as overseas tax havens.
Its majority partner is the SK Special Goods Trading limited liability company, backed by UA Special Goods Trading based in Florida, US. The latter's managing director is Ljubov Efimová. Although an American citizen, she is the mother of former Ukrainian MP Maxim Efimov. She owns several US and UK companies and makes money from arms contracts intended for Ukraine. According to Index, Efimova is also the final user of the benefits of Arm Servis.
Member of Arm Servis's supervisory board is Ivica Bucová, who was the managing director of Konštrukta – Servis, a part of the state arms group DMD Holding, from December 2022 to December 2023.
UA Special Goods Trading used to own a company bearing the same name as the future plant until May of this year. It also used to own Prom Investments, the owner of the land on which the new plant is to be built. Both companies were founded by UA Special Goods Trading together with Andrian Farahun, who left last July.
According to the Aktuality.sk news site, Farahun is a Ukrainian with a permanent residence in the village of Leleš, southeastern Slovakia. He is suspected of illegal activity, in the past he owned several shipping companies that were allegedly involved in smuggling goods from Ukraine to the EU. He does business in Sobrance.
The current sole owner of both is company Byrb Capital based in Delaware, US, which is known as a tax haven.
The manager of Cylinder Factory is Lyudmyla Ulyashchenko, who lives in the village of Záhor near the Ukrainian border. She is also a member of Arm Servis's supervisory board.
An investment that would help
Arm Servis intends to invest €14 million to reconstruct an old hall and build a new one, as well as a paint shop. The plan is to produce 100,000 cases annually and provide 220 jobs.
As Sobrance is one of the least developed districts in Slovakia with a relatively high unemployment rate, the new factory could help the region. The construction is expected to start this November. Production should start in January 2027.
©Index
