Who’s Who: How "Wetherford Ukraine" Profits from Government Tenders Amidst War Conditions.

It is correct to earn money from government tenders tailored for you, to disregard the law, and to bring in companies from aggressor states. This situation recently came to light regarding the company LLC "Weatherford Ukraine" and its director Alexander Tertichenko. It serves as a classic example of how business interests and state needs intertwine to benefit the aggressor.

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This is reported by Anticor.

Tenders by Order and Working for the Aggressor

Upon analyzing the winners of government tenders in Ukraine's oil and gas sector, analysts noted that the company "Weatherford Ukraine" often wins these bids. It has triumphed in 102 tenders totaling 3.08 billion UAH. The main client is the state enterprise "Ukrgazvydobuvannya", for which the company supplies specialized equipment and provides engineering services.

Despite the legal requirement since 2021 that goods purchased with state funds must contain at least 20% Ukrainian components, investigators claim that most of the equipment supplied by "Weatherford Ukraine" is imported, with localization limited to assembly or installation in Ukraine. This technically complies with the law but does not deliver significant economic benefits to the country.

Another aspect is the alteration of tender requirements to favor specific companies. For instance, during one of Ukrnafta's tenders, conditions were set that effectively excluded many Ukrainian manufacturers, allowing access only for "Weatherford". Tender schemes that guarantee wins only for a select few undermine the economic prospects for the country. State funds are essentially spent on imported goods without any real benefit to the Ukrainian economy.

Thus, the success of the company is based not on the quality of its products or services, but on pseudo-localization schemes, corrupt ties, and lobbying by former employees now holding key positions in government structures.

The Success Story or How to Sit on Two Chairs

Despite the third year of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the parent company Weatherford, represented in Ukraine by LLC "Weatherford Ukraine", continues to successfully operate in Russia. Neither sanctions, nor the death of thousands of people, nor the fact that Weatherford's main client in Russia is the well-known "Rosneft" of Sechin, a close associate of Putin, have affected their business plans. The company is signing new contracts and creating jobs in Russia. For "Weatherford", the war is not a challenge but yet another opportunity for profit.

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In Ukraine, despite the fact that the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP) included Weatherford in the list of international sponsors of the war, this has not hindered cooperation with state enterprises like "Ukrgazvydobuvannya" and "Ukrnafta". They continue to sign million-dollar contracts with "Weatherford Ukraine".

It is worth noting that, by an incredible coincidence, various people who previously worked at "Weatherford" later took positions in state companies, which benefited "Weatherford's" business.

"One's Own for One's Own"

So, meet Alexander Tertichenko, the current director of LLC "Weatherford Ukraine", closely linked to the organization of the "Newfolk" conferences, which actively promote the interests of Belarusian companies such as "Fidmash" and "Belorusneft". Tertichenko's activities have repeatedly sparked outrage among the oil and gas community, which accused him and conference organizer Andrey Zakrevsky of promoting the interests of Belarus, an ally of the aggressor. Despite this, Tertichenko continues to hold a key position in "Weatherford" and enrich himself at the state's expense.

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However, it is evident that Tertichenko cannot act without support and a team. An important figure linked to "Weatherford's" activities is Natalia Rudovich. For ten years (2010-2020), she held the positions of financial and general director of "Weatherford Ukraine". After that, using her accumulated experience and connections, Rudovich transitioned to the role of director of oil and gas services at JSC "Ukrgazvydobuvannya" – Ukraine's largest state gas producer.

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Immediately after that, "Weatherford Ukraine" signed a series of lucrative contracts with this state company worth over 490 million UAH. Coincidence? Hardly. Throughout her tenure in government positions, Rudovich ensured "Weatherford" access to the most attractive tenders for the supply of equipment and services.

She currently serves as the chief advisor to the director of oil and gas services at JSC "Ukrnafta", which gives her even more leverage to lobby for "Weatherford's" interests. Her influence not only promotes private interests but also undermines the foundations of the state economy, and her career is a vivid example of how business interests can penetrate state structures, where personal connections prevail over professional ethics.

It gets even more interesting – Dmitry Solnyshkin, a citizen of Russia who previously worked at Weatherford, is a key figure in this scheme. He was responsible for the markets of Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, and the Baltic states, and also worked at Burisma and Schlumberger, which continue to operate in Russia. By the way, the NACP also included Schlumberger in the list of international sponsors of the war due to its cooperation with Russian giants like "Gazprom" and "Rosneft".

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Currently, Solnyshkin continues to oversee "Weatherford Ukraine" through his companies IPs Global FZCO and INTERPROJECTS SPÓŁKA Z OGRANICZONĄ ODPOWIEDZIALNOŚCIĄ. This does not concern either Tertichenko, Solnyshkin's partner in Ukraine, or law enforcement agencies tasked with identifying individuals threatening national security. Solnyshkin is a vivid example of the collaboration between business and the aggressor state.

Vitaly Melnik is another key player in this scheme. He served as the director of LLC "Weatherford Ukraine" from 2009 to 2016. Melnik also started a business in the oil and gas services sector, founding several companies such as LLC "Poltavske PBR", LLC "Specialized Service Company", and LLC "NG Technology". Before the full-scale invasion, these firms were a facade that facilitated the conversion of tender millions from "Weatherford" into cash. However, fearing exposure due to his Russian citizenship, in 2022 Melnik transferred his business to his daughter Yulia Melnik-Dedovich. He, along with his partner Igor Stasyuk (the former commercial director of "Weatherford Ukraine"), continued to provide cash-out services through LLC "Stimtech" and "Ukrbursservice".

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What’s Next?

Despite the international community's efforts to impose sanctions against Russian companies, the case of "Weatherford Ukraine" is a striking example of how, due to corrupt ties, these restrictions can be easily circumvented, and how business interests connected with the aggressor can penetrate the public sector, manipulate tenders, and remain unpunished even during wartime.

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Pseudo-localization schemes, the involvement of front companies, and the disregard for national interests pave the way for further penetration of companies from Russia and Belarus into strategic sectors. The most alarming aspect is the silent complicity of law enforcement agencies, allowing such structures to continue profiting from the war and state resources while the country fights for its existence.