In the fifth year of a full-scale war, any information that could even hypothetically relate to ties with russia is extremely sensitive for Ukrainian society. This is reasonable and justified.
We respect the work of journalists, the media’s right to ask difficult questions, and the importance of public oversight of business during wartime.
That is precisely why we consider it necessary to clearly state our position in response to the material announced by Slidstvo.Info, in which “AMIC UKRAINE” is accused of having ties to the aggressor country.
AMIC UKRAINE is a Ukrainian enterprise with foreign investment, 100% owned by the Austrian company AMIC Energy Management GmbH. The company has no russian capital, no russian beneficiaries, and is not under the operational control of russia. AMIC ENERGY does not purchase russian fuel and does not conduct financial transactions for the benefit of the aggressor state.
In 2015, the Austrian company AMIC ENERGY acquired a network of gas stations that previously belonged to “Lukoil.” We have never concealed this fact. Since then, the company—which currently operates in the fuel markets of EU countries such as Austria, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia—has been operating in the Ukrainian market as a European company: paying taxes in Ukraine, ensuring the operation of the gas station network, and supporting employees, communities, and Ukrainian defenders.
From the very first day of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 until today, AMIC UKRAINE has supported and continues to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
At the start of the full-scale invasion, as russian columns of tanks and armored vehicles advanced toward Kyiv, AMIC UKRAINE voluntarily informed the Armed Forces of Ukraine that the enemy intended to capture its oil depot in the city of Borodianka and provided them with its coordinates. The Ukrainian Armed Forces were able to destroy this oil depot, which significantly complicated and slowed the advance of russian troops toward the capital.
In January 2023, “AMIK UKRAINE” filed a lawsuit against russia with the European Court of Human Rights.
Recently, Slidstvo.Info contacted us with inquiries regarding the company’s possible ties to russia, the origin of its fuel, its suppliers, and other issues. We provided the editorial team with responses and supporting documents regarding each issue raised.
Given the public announcement of the article, we have reason to believe that not all of the explanations and documents provided by the company were fully taken into account.
This genuinely surprised us, as “AMIC UKRAINE” had provided the editorial team with responses and supporting documents indicating the absence of any ties between the company and the aggressor state even before the article was published.
That is precisely why we consider it important to provide the full factual context and publicly state the company’s position on the issues that were raised. Below, we provide key clarifications for partners, clients, and all interested parties.
Based on the nature of the inquiries that “Slidstvo.Info” sent us during the preparation of the article, as well as the specific wording already made public in today’s announcement—that the company allegedly “purchases from entities affiliated with Lukoil” and that its co-owner, until recently, owned a “russian regional bank”—we understand that the allegations will center on the following points. Below are our responses to each of them.
1. Purchases of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the trader UNIMOT
AMIC UKRAINE purchased 186.8 metric tons of LPG from UNIMOT—all of which was of Polish origin, as confirmed by certificates. To put this into perspective: this represents less than 0.05% of total LPG imports during the relevant period. UNIMOT’s clients include the state-owned companies JSC “Ukrzaliznytsia” and JSC “Ukrnafta,” as well as Ukraine’s largest gas station chains. There are no restrictions on UNIMOT imposed by the SBU or EU authorities. If our 186.8 metric tons of Polish gas constitutes a “link to russia”—then most of Ukraine’s fuel market, including state-owned enterprises, falls under this definition.
2. Supplies from the Lithuanian companies Baltic Petroleum and Viada
Contracts with Baltic Petroleum and Viada were signed amid an acute fuel crisis at the start of the full-scale invasion, as part of an official decision by the Government of Ukraine aimed at rapidly replenishing the market via the western border. “AMIC UKRAINE,” with its extensive network of gas stations and oil depots, was able to respond quickly and contribute to stabilizing the situation. The supplies consisted of fuel produced by ORLEN—the largest energy company in Central and Eastern Europe. The origin of the goods is confirmed by EUR.1 certificates. The deliveries were completed at the end of 2023.
3. Investigation of Baltic Petroleum and Viada by Lithuanian Authorities
Yes, there was an investigation—it began in March 2022. However, it concluded in June 2022 with the finding that there were no grounds to consider these companies a threat to Lithuania’s national security. Moreover, as early as June 10, 2022, Viada and Baltic Petroleum participated in Lithuanian government tenders—which, under Lithuanian law, is prohibited for companies linked to hostile states. Referring to the fact of the investigation while omitting its outcome constitutes manipulation.
It is also worth noting that “AMIC UKRAINE” has been a supplier to the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine following open tender procedures—starting in February 2023. A government agency that truly had evidence of the company’s ties to an aggressor state would not have entered into contracts with it.
4. One of the minority co-owners’ shareholding in a “russian regional bank”
“Slidstvo.Info” also inquired about the fact that one of the minority co-owners of the foreign direct investment (FDI) entity “AMIC UKRAINE” — Johannes Klezl-Norberg — held shares in a russian “regional bank” until December 2022.
Johannes Klezl-Norberg is an Austrian attorney with nearly forty years of experience. Like most European lawyers and investors, until 2022 he had certain business contacts with clients from various countries around the world including russia.
After russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, Mr. Klezl-Norberg voluntarily and completely withdrew from all russia-related mandates and business activities, including his involvement with the “russian Regional Bank.” This was done specifically in response to Ukraine’s call for private individuals and businesses in the EU to sever ties with russia. In his own words: “I would have done this even without such a call.”
This stance was an important act of principle, especially given that by no means all business representatives who have operated and continue to operate in the Ukrainian market have voluntarily divested themselves of their russian assets.
We feel it is necessary to emphasize: the fact that a person reacted to the outbreak of the war exactly as Ukraine demanded of all its partners in Europe and now this very action is being presented as grounds for accusations — is, to put it mildly, unfair.
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We hope that the information provided here will help everyone form an objective opinion regarding the validity of the accusations made by Slidstvo.Info — and finally put an end to the myth about ties to the aggressor country held by a foreign-invested company that operates in good faith in Ukraine, pays taxes here, and has supported the country during the most difficult years of its history.
