Companies of aviation businessman Roman Mileshko underpaid $10 million in taxes – investigation

Investigative journalists have uncovered signs of possible tax evasion by companies controlled by aviation entrepreneur Roman Mileshko. The investigation focuses on H3OPERATIONS Limited Liability Company and PJSC Constanta Airlines, which reported record financial performance alongside unusually low labor costs.

According to official data, in 2024, Constanta Airlines spent UAH 32.9 million (approx. $860,000) on salaries, while H3OPERATIONS spent UAH 33.5 million (approx. $875,000). However, the scale of their operations appears disproportionate to these amounts. During the first year of full-scale war, the revenue of the first company increased by 14%, while the second reported a staggering 4,138% growth.

The average monthly salary in both companies ranged from only UAH 14,000 to 22,000 (approx. $370–580) — a suspiciously low figure for the aviation sector, where employees must be certified, proficient in technical English, and bear high levels of responsibility.

By comparison, industry leaders such as SkyUp and Ukrainian Helicopters each spent over UAH 1 billion (approx. $26 million) on salaries in 2024, with average monthly pay for comparable specialists reaching UAH 98,000 to 172,000 (approx. $2,600 – 4,600) — 5 to 8 times higher than at Mileshko’s firms. This discrepancy may point to schemes involving off-the-books payments.

Journalists estimate that over the past three years of full-scale war, companies linked to Mileshko may have underpaid nearly UAH 400 million (approx. $10 million) in taxes — including personal income tax, the unified social contribution, and the military levy.

In June 2024, the Bureau of Economic Security launched a pre-trial investigation into H3OPERATIONS over possible tax evasion. However, further progress in the case has reportedly stalled. Journalists suggest this may be due to interference by Member of Parliament Ihor Kopytin, who allegedly lobbied on behalf of Mileshko’s companies within state institutions, including the State Aviation Administration — as indicated by previously published documents.

It is worth noting that Mileshko’s companies have repeatedly appeared in investigations regarding violations of defense contract deadlines, reduced work volumes, and the installation of potentially unsafe equipment on military helicopters. Some of these firms have also been linked to contractors with ties to the Russian Federation or companies that previously worked with Russian entities.

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