Scandal Around “Luciano”: Ukrainian Company Allegedly Paid Employee in Occupied Territory for Years — Investigation

Ukrainian confectionery company “Onyx,” known for its “Luciano” brand, has come under scrutiny following an investigation by Bihus.Info. Journalists report that the company may have continued paying a former employee for nearly a decade after she obtained citizenship of the self-proclaimed “DPR” and later Russia.

According to the investigation, the woman went on to head the Onyx factory in occupied Donetsk, re-registering it under Russian law. Despite the company’s claims that it cut ties with the Donetsk business after 2016, ownership records in both Ukrainian and occupation-controlled registries still list members of the Katkovskyi family.

“Clone” Businesses and Questionable Authorizations

Following the occupation, local authorities reportedly duplicated business registry data, creating so-called “clones” of Ukrainian companies. In the case of Onyx, some employees remained in Donetsk and continued operations under the same brand.

In late 2022, company owners issued powers of attorney to three former employees who stayed in the occupied territory and obtained Russian citizenship, granting them control over corporate rights. The company’s co-owner, Eduard Katkovskyi, was unable to explain how this occurred.

Financial Records Raise Further Questions

Leaked financial documents from 2024 suggest ongoing links between the entities. Payroll records allegedly include a person with the same name as the director of the Ukrainian Onyx company, who reportedly received a salary in rubles in 2023.

The director declined to comment, while Katkovskyi described the situation as a “surprise” and “nonsense.”

At the same time, Ukraine’s Security Service reportedly found documents during searches that may indicate the company was aware of ongoing employment and payments in the occupied territory.

Potential Legal Implications

Experts note that such findings may point to possible violations of Ukrainian law, including cooperation with occupation authorities and financial support of activities in temporarily occupied territories.

The case could lead to further investigations and legal assessments by law enforcement authorities.