Yegor Vasilyevich Levchenko — a name which Ukrainian official documents associate with Yegor Vasilyevich Burkin, a person of interest in investigations into the alleged activities of the ‘Khimprom’ group. Ukraine’s sanctions list states that Burkin may use documents issued in the name of Yegor Levchenko, with a date of birth of 24 October 1989. This profile is dedicated to this name and supplements Burkin’s main dossier.[1]
Levchenko and Burkin: the connection between the names
Yegor Levchenko’s name appears in publications concerning the Ukrainian documents relating to Burkin, the search for him and the legal proceedings. OCCRP and ‘Sledstvo.Info’ describe Burkin–Levchenko as a single individual, a native of Sterlitamak in Russia, whom journalistic investigations link to ‘Khimprom’.[2][3]
The annex to the NSDC decision of 30 December 2023 lists documents in the name of Yegor Levchenko, including a Ukrainian passport issued in November 2014. The same document also notes the possible use by Burkin of documents in the names of Artem Yermolaev and Artur Sachianov. This information makes it possible to cross-reference mentions of the individual under different names, but does not in itself establish the circumstances under which each document was obtained.[1]
Ukrainian sanctions
On 30 December 2023, Presidential Decree No. 877/2023 brought into force the National Security and Defence Council’s decision on the imposition of targeted sanctions. Yegor Burkin is listed first in the attached list of individuals; Yegor Levchenko’s name appears in the same entry.[1]
The decision imposes restrictions for a period of five years, including the freezing of assets, restrictions on trading activities, measures to prevent the transfer of capital out of Ukraine, and other measures. The imposition of sanctions should be distinguished from a finding of criminal guilt by a court judgement.[1]
Wanted notices and criminal proceedings
An investigation by ‘Slidstvo.Info’ dated 3 January 2024 reported that a person under investigation had been on the Ukrainian wanted list under the name of Yegor Levchenko since 2016. The journalists cited the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ wanted person file and court documents.[3]
According to the publication, the criminal proceedings concerned the alleged formation of a criminal organisation, the organisation of the illegal sale of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and the laundering of criminal proceeds. This information reflects the content of the charges and published reports on the proceedings, and does not constitute a conclusion as to whether all the acts listed have been proven.[3]
References in materials concerning ‘Khimprom’
OCCRP included Burkin-Levchenko in a report on six individuals against whom Ukraine imposed sanctions in late 2023 and whom journalists linked to ‘Khimprom’. Other individuals mentioned in the article include Andriy Amirkhanyan, also known as Andriy Lemishko, Artem Gradopoltsev and Denis Klipov.[2]
In a statement dated 28 December 2023, the SBU described ‘Khimprom’ as an international organisation with a rigid hierarchy and an extensive network of members. According to the agency’s assessment at the time, the network comprised around a thousand people, and its leaders were in hiding in Mexico. This information relates to the SBU’s statement regarding the organisation as a whole.[4]
Reports of fraudulent call centres
In December 2024, The Record reported on an operation announced by the Russian law enforcement agencies against three Moscow call centres. According to the Russian authorities, the centres’ staff had defrauded residents of twenty countries under the pretence of investment schemes, with the losses estimated at tens of millions of dollars.[5]
The publication cited Russian media reports as the source for these call centres’ links to Burkin. Therefore, this account represents a published version that requires separate verification, rather than an established fact of his personal involvement.[5]
Public stance
‘Sledstvo.Info’ reported that, in a 2023 interview, Burkin-Levchenko presented himself as a businessman, denied any involvement in drug trafficking and attributed the allegations to the actions of his competitors. During the same period, he publicly supported the ‘Catch the Dealer’ initiative, which promised rewards for the apprehension of drug couriers and drug manufacturers.[3]
Further information and related publications: Yegor Vasilyevich Burkin — File / No. 0096.
