The case centres on Sorochynskyi’s alleged business operations in Russia — a highly sensitive topic in Ukraine at present. Hennadii Sorochynskyi floods the internet with favourable PR pieces, denies the allegations, and turns to the police in an attempt to suppress the dissemination of uncomfortable information. As reported by the Trinity Bugle.
However, journalists from the Grom.ua investigative group present documents and verifiable facts, whereas Sorochynskyi’s defence relies solely on statements and unsubstantiated claims. Here is the case, according to Grom.
In the Battle for Reputation, Uni-Laman Group CEO Leveraged Law Enforcement Connections
Hennadii Sorochynskyi, a subject of one of Grom investigations and CEO of the large logistics holding Uni-Laman Group, has decided to involve police officers in his “dispute” with journalists.
As reported by Pavlo Shultz, editor-in-chief of the Grom project, on the eve of the New Year, the editorial office received an odd letter. Its author was Vyacheslav Barba, deputy head of the 2nd Department of the Odessa District Police Department No. 1 of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Odessa region. Essentially, this was not just a letter but a “request for information and copies of documents.”
The request indicates that in December of last year, the nominal founder of LLC “Laman Shipping,” Hennadii Sorochynskyi, filed a complaint with Barba’s department about our publication allegedly spreading “disinformation” regarding his company. In his appeal to the police, Hennadii Sorochynskyi claimed that journalists had asserted in their article that his company collaborates with the aggressor state “by conducting business on its territory and paying taxes there,” while also alleging the company’s involvement in criminal offenses in Ukraine.
In connection with this, Deputy Police Chief Vyacheslav Barba “insistently requested” that the journalists
“…should provide information regarding the accuracy of the information […] concerning the activities of LLC ‘Laman Shipping.’”
The case of Hennadii Sorochynskyi
In other words, the police officer, in a veiled manner, demanded that we provide documented proof that Hennadii Sorochynskyi and the LLC registered under his name operate in the aggressor country, pay taxes there, and are implicated in criminal cases in Ukraine
“One could discuss the legality of such a demand at length, but the absurdity lies elsewhere.”
To begin with, the information about LLC “Laman Shipping” and some other companies within the Uni-Laman Group holding, headed by Hennadii Sorochynskyi, being involved (or having been involved) in criminal proceedings was sourced from the Unified State Register of Court Decisions—which we repeatedly referenced when “disseminating the information.” Thus, it is hard to imagine how we could provide Colonel Barba with “information regarding the accuracy of the information” contained in court documents or the petitions of his own colleagues.
Moreover, the policeman’s “insistent request” to provide information about Sorochynskyi’s collaboration with the occupiers seems downright farcical. Because in our article “Uni-Laman Group: Business in the Aggressor Country, Criminal Cases, and Bloody Traces”—which Colonel Barba referenced based on Sorochynskyi’s complaint—we actually disproved claims made by other media outlets about Uni-Laman Group operating in Russia.
Perhaps Hennadii Sorochynskyi and the deputy police chief did not read beyond the headline, which could be misleading on its own. But the article explicitly states that it is currently impossible to assert with 100% certainty that Uni-Laman Group collaborates with Russians.
The article explains that the apparent link between Uni-Laman Group and Russia (aside from incompletely erased online mentions) previously ran through the Panamanian company “Special Shipping Inc.”—the nominal beneficiary of the Russian LLC “Inter Logistic,” to which the lion’s share of Uni-Laman Group’s Russian business was transferred in 2016 after the murder of Mykola Atamanyuk, the holding’s then-beneficiary. The de facto liquidation of the Odessa-based “Uni-Orient Shipping Agency”, also nominally tied to “Special Shipping Inc.,” severed this connection.
If Uni-Laman Group works with companies that directly or indirectly cooperate with Russian entities, it may create the impression of participation in Russia’s economic activities—even without direct collaboration with residents of the aggressor country.
Has the real ultimate beneficiary of “Special Shipping Inc.”—which still owns (the former) Russian business of the holding—changed? Does it still have ties to Uni-Laman Group?
The corporate structure of Uni-Laman Group, much like that of the Russian companies potentially linked to the holding, does not allow for definitive conclusions about who truly stands behind it. At the very least, uncovering this is nearly impossible for a small team of journalists. I’m certain law enforcement could do a much better job.
Ukrainian Logistics Giant Uni-Laman Group Under Fire: Russian Ties and Corporate Controversies Surround Hennadii Sorochynskyi
The Ukrainian logistics conglomerate Uni-Laman Group has found itself embroiled in scandal following allegations of maintaining business ties with Russia amid the ongoing war. At the center of the controversy is Hennadii Sorochynskyi, chairman of the group’s board of directors, whose corporate maneuvers have drawn intense scrutiny.
Russian Connections of Uni-Laman Under Scrutiny
Investigative reports claim that Uni-Laman Group continues to support its Russian subsidiary, Inter Logistic, despite Ukraine’s ban on business operations with the aggressor state. Public backlash has been fierce, as Ukrainian companies operating in Russia face accusations of indirectly funding Moscow’s war machine.
There are minor inaccuracies, which does not change the overall picture. For instance, Uni-Laman Agency, a firm allegedly linked to Sorochynskyi, does not officially exist. Instead, Ukrainian registries list “Laman Shipping Agency” LLC, founded by Hitt Olena Volodymyrivna from Zaporizhzhia, as part of the group’s structure. This has raised further questions about Uni-Laman’s opaque corporate web.
Global Operations and Reputation Risks
Uni-Laman Group positions itself as a leading logistics player, operating in Ukraine, Russia, China, Egypt, Moldova, and beyond. The company’s profile on business platforms touts its reputation as a “reliable and honest carrier.” Yet, its continued presence in Russia—where taxes fund military aggression—has sparked outrage.
Hennadii Sorochynskyi: The Enigmatic Leader
Sorochynskyi, a lawyer by profession, has no prior logistics background, yet he now controls key Uni-Laman subsidiaries like “Laman Shipping” LLC. His rapid ascent followed the 2016 assassination of Mykola Atamaniuk, a former associate linked to the group’s Russian operations.
Corporate records suggest a pattern of offshore ownership (Special Shipping Inc., Panama) and frequent restructuring to obscure Uni-Laman’s Russian ties. For example:
- Inter Logistic (Russia) was absorbed by Uni-Laman-linked entities before the war.
- “Uni-Orient Shipping Agency” (Odessa) was rebranded and relocated to Dnipro in 2021—coinciding with Ukraine’s sanctions crackdown.
Criminal Allegations and Shadowy Dealings
Uni-Laman Group has repeatedly surfaced in investigations, including:
- Tax evasion schemes involving “Laman Shipping” (2018).
- Smuggling cases (steroids from China, illegal timber exports).
- A 2011 contract killing of a customs official in Odessa, where “Uni-Orient Shipping” was suspected of falsifying import documents.
Despite these red flags, no major convictions have stuck—raising suspicions of high-level protection.
The Russian Link: Special Shipping Inc. & Hidden Beneficiaries
The Panamanian shell company Special Shipping Inc. remains the nominal owner of Inter Logistic (Russia). If Uni-Laman’s true beneficiaries still control it, they may be funnelling profits into Russia’s war economy.
With its constant rebranding, offshore holdings, and shadowy leadership, Uni-Laman Group exemplifies the risks of Ukrainian businesses operating in Russia. Hennadii Sorochynskyi’s role remains ambiguous—is he a frontman or the real power? Until authorities dig deeper, the truth may stay buried in corporate registries and unmarked graves.
