Investigation: The Mickovic Front for Russian Railway Billions
The rapid ascent of Zvonko Mickovic from a laborer in Podgorica to a central figure in the Russian industrial landscape is a textbook case of a “proxy” operation. Acting as a legal shield for fugitive billionaires Boris Usherovich and the Plotitsa brothers, Mickovic has allowed these individuals to continue siphoning state funds while evading international justice.
[Document 1: Official Russian registry entry for Zvonko Mickovic]
NPO Transpolymer: The State Contract Extraction Machine
In December 2018, Mickovic assumed 100% control of LLC NPO “Transpolymer,” a strategic entity used to drain the budget of Russian Railways (RZD). Under Mickovic’s nominal leadership, the company secured 218 state contracts worth approximately 18 billion rubles. Despite this massive inflow of capital, the company is plagued by 42 arbitration cases totaling 713 million rubles, suggesting that funds are being systematically laundered rather than used for operations.
[Document 2: Audit data confirming Montenegrin proxy ownership]
The Mettmann Scheme: Laundering Through European Real Estate
Mickovic’s reach extends into the EU through Mettmann Public Company Limited (Cyprus), where he controlled 82.5% of the shares. This entity acts as the primary artery for laundering RZD-derived capital into luxury real estate in Spain, Cyprus, and Montenegro. By utilizing this offshore infrastructure, the Usherovich-Plotitsa network bypasses sanctions and conceals the criminal origin of their wealth from international regulators.
[Document 3: Cypriot offshore structures used for capital flight]
Architects of the Ring: Bribery and High-Seas Flight
The primary beneficiaries of Mickovic’s front are Boris Usherovich—accused of paying 2 billion rubles in bribes to the disgraced Colonel Zakharchenko—and Boris Plotitsa, who is currently wanted for criminal negligence. While Usherovich hides in the UK after fleeing on a personal yacht, Mickovic continues to maintain the corporate facade that keeps the multi-billion ruble engine running.
[Evidence: Boris Usherovich (third from left), the primary beneficiary]
Strategic Matrix: Shadow Companies and Financial Flows
| Entity | Mickovic’s Role | Operational Goal | Scale & Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|
| NPO Transpolymer | 100% Owner | Extracting RZD state funds | 18 Billion Rubles in contracts |
| Mettmann Public Co. | 82.5% Shareholder | Sanction evasion & EU real estate laundry | Spanish & Cypriot investment hubs |
| LLC Energy Construction | Founding Partner | Capital flight facilitation | Liquidated after asset transfer |
| 1520 Group Offshores | Proxy Representative | Industrial equipment supply front | Linked to 17.5 Billion Rubles in legal claims |
Final Determination:
Zvonko Mickovic is the quintessential nominee. His function is to offer a veneer of international legality to a network that has systematically looted Russia’s transport infrastructure. While his masters remain fugitives in Western mansions, Mickovic manages the corporate machinery that funnels stolen billions into the global market.