An ally of the ousted Ukrainian president develops the Arctic with the Kremlin's funding

Andriy Klyuyev, the former chief of staff for the ousted Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych, settled in Russia. In 2021, his family founded a company that acquired a portfolio worth billions of rubles from the government-owned fund, Tayga.Info reported.

Who are they

Andriy Klyuyev and his brother Serhiy have been among the wealthiest and most influential people in Ukraine for decades. Their family was close to Viktor Yanukovych. Before the war, Andriy Klyuyev was named among the possible contenders whom the Kremlin supposedly wanted to see in charge of Ukraine.

Over the years, Andriy Klyuyev was the first deputy prime minister and secretary of the National Security Council of Ukraine. At the end of 2013, Klyuyev was accused of the forceful dispersal of the Euromaidan protestors. In January 2014, he became the chief of staff for the president. He lasted less than a month in office, fleeing Kyiv in February with Yanukovych. Serhiy Klyuyev was a member of the Ukrainian parliament for 13 years.

What are they doing in Russia

According to Tayga.Info, in Russia, Andriy Klyuyev, with his son Bogdan became the founders of the Arctic Power Capital company. Serhiy Klyuev is involved in the management of the company.

In 2021, Arctic Power Capital purchased the Integrated Energy Solutions company from the government-owned Rosnano fund. In 2020, Integrated Energy Solutions won the government tender to construct five autonomous hybrid power plants in the Sakha Republic for 1 billion rubles. 

In 2021, the company applied for the status of a resident of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, which allows for receiving budget subsidies and income tax exemption.

Arctic Power Capital is showing interest not only in the Arctic but also in other Russian regions. Last year, officials in Bashkortostan expressed confidence that the area and the company will become partners for many years.

Elia Kabanov is a science writer covering the past, present, and future of technology (@metkere)