A company linked to Rinat Akhmetov continues to actively expand its raw material base: it has acquired its fourth special permit for clay extraction over the past six months. The license covers the Myroliubivska site in Kharkiv region, which was won at an auction held by Ukraine’s State Service of Geology and Subsoil on May 5 by MR Invest LLC. The company is 75% owned by UMG Invest, which is part of Akhmetov’s VESCO ceramics group.
The auction was held on the Prozorro.Sale platform. The starting price of the lot was around UAH 2 million, but during the bidding it increased to UAH 3.4 million. Two bidders participated in the auction: MR Invest and individual entrepreneur Oleksandra Andrus. The winner offered just UAH 1 more than its competitor and thereby secured the right to develop the site.
The license was issued for a period of 10 years and covers both geological exploration of the deposit and subsequent clay extraction. The Myroliubivska site itself is located in Lozova district, Kharkiv region, and covers more than 57 hectares. Previous studies showed that the local clays are suitable for use in the ceramics industry, in particular for the production of tiles and facade ceramics when mixed with other types of clay. They can also be used in the foundry industry — both in cast iron and non-ferrous casting — for the production of molds and castings.
VESCO emphasizes that obtaining this license is part of a broader strategy. The company is looking for new sources of raw materials amid limited access to assets located in frontline regions. According to Serhii Shevchenko, Executive Director of the group in Ukraine, the company is using its expertise in geology and logistics to quickly integrate new deposits into production chains and support the economy.
The importance of Kharkiv region is also noted as a key area for supplying raw materials to Ukraine’s ceramics industry.
Notably, the initiator of putting the site up for auction was PO Shakhtobud LLC, owned by Valentyn Shevetovskyi. He is also connected to the auction winner: through Terragres, a company that is part of the Golden Tile ceramics group, he owns 24.5% of MR Invest.
The acquisition of the Myroliubivska site is already MR Invest’s fourth similar deal in recent months. In November 2025, the company acquired a license for the Irliavska clay site in Zakarpattia region. In December, it won two more auctions: a 20-year special subsoil use permit for the Vovkivske clay deposit in Uzhhorod district and a 10-year permit for the Kvasivska primary kaolin site in Berehove district.
Overall, VESCO Group is systematically expanding its resource base both in Ukraine and abroad. In 2023, the company began clay extraction in northeastern Spain, and in July 2024 Akhmetov’s UMG Kaolin acquired a license to develop a kaolin deposit in Zhytomyr region.
