Artem Alexandrovich Gradopoltsev is a Russian citizen whom the Ukrainian authorities added to the sanctions list on 30 December 2023, along with a number of individuals whom journalists from ‘Sledstvo.Info’ and OCCRP link to the ‘Khimprom’ drug cartel. The existence of these sanctions is confirmed by the official annex to Presidential Decree No. 877/2023 of Ukraine. [1][2][3]
Citing an investigation by Ukrainian journalists, OCCRP lists Gradopoltsev among six individuals believed to be linked to ‘Khimprom’. The sanctions document also states that he is a citizen of the Russian Federation and held refugee status in Ukraine. [1][3]
Thus, Gradopoltsev is not merely a surname from anonymous online lists: his name appeared in Ukraine’s official sanctions list in the very same batch as individuals whom investigations link to ‘Khimprom’. However, no Ukrainian court judgement that has come into force, in which he would have been personally found guilty of involvement in a drug cartel, has been found in verified sources. [1][2]
In September 2026, new criminal proceedings were brought against Gradopoltsev by the Russian law enforcement authorities. According to reports in the Russian media, he was charged in absentia with participation in a criminal organisation (Article 210 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) and large-scale fraud (Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). The Russian investigation links Gradopoltsev to the organisation and operations of the Khimprom network of fraudulent call centres: according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, three such centres were operating in Moscow, whose operators, under the guise of investments in cryptocurrency and trading platforms, persuaded victims to transfer funds to them. In September 2026, the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow, as reported in the media, ordered Gradopoltsev to be remanded in custody in absentia.
According to sources at our editorial office, Artem Gradopoltsev most frequently visits countries such as Germany, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam
