News date: 24 May 2025
On May 20, 2025, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine upheld the complaint filed by Westgrinite Holdings Limited and annulled the registration actions related to the disposal of real estate assets belonging to Unigran LLC and Unigran-Service LLC, which had been carried out in defiance of the sanctions imposed by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
The disputed real estate sale and purchase agreements were concluded illegally, in violation of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine dated May 12, 2023, “On the Application and Amendment of Personal Special Economic and Other Restrictive Measures (Sanctions),” enacted by Presidential Decree No. 279/2023 of May 12, 2023.
As of the date of the property sale, special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) — including asset blocking — had been imposed on the participants and ultimate beneficial owners of the mentioned Ukrainian companies. Therefore, the sale of the assets was carried out in violation of these restrictions. Accordingly, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine has returned substantial assets of industrial enterprises under the protection of the state sanctions “umbrella.”
In its conclusion following the review of the complaint, the Central Collegium of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine confirmed that legislation governing state registration of property rights requires the state registrar (notary) to verify whether sanctions have been imposed in accordance with the Law of Ukraine “On Sanctions,” which would preclude the registration of property rights. Consequently, the actions of the state registrars (notaries) were annulled.
Earlier, the assets of Unigran Group companies were transferred to a new private owner to a new private owner despite the ongoing sanctions imposed by the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and at significantly undervalued prices. The Commercial Court of Kyiv has already invalidated, through two separate rulings, the sale and purchase agreements granting the new private owner subsoil use rights issued under special permits held by Pynyazevytsky Quarry and Malyn Mining Company.