Law enforcement and tax authorities in Ukraine are conducting a large-scale investigation into the activities of LLC «Pharmastor,» the operator of one of the country’s largest pharmacy chains, «Apteka Dobroho Dnia» (Good Day Pharmacy). The company, along with related firms within the business orbit of entrepreneur Ihor Chervonenko, is being scrutinized for potential involvement in tax minimization, suspicious patent schemes, and the artificial restriction of competition in the pharmaceutical market. Despite the attention from investigators, the company continues to actively secure public funds through the state procurement system.
LLC «Pharmastor,» which ranks among the top five leaders in Ukraine’s pharmaceutical retail sector, is officially owned by the Cypriot company Pharminvest Holdings Limited (89.5%) and LLC «Apteka Dobroho Dnia» (10.5%). The ultimate beneficial owner of the business is Ihor Chervonenko.
According to the investigation, during the timeframe of the alleged «patent scheme,» the company abruptly expanded its registered business activity codes (KVED). Notably, on June 20, 2025—less than a month after the relevant criminal proceedings were initiated—the pharmacy operator suddenly added rights for «motion picture and video production,» as well as educational activities. Prior to this, the enterprise had acquired codes for data processing, wholesale trade of meat, milk, and grain, and even hairdressing services. Industry experts note that such a broad list of non-typical business codes is frequently used by corporations to obscure operations lacking real economic substance.
Simultaneously, an analysis of the company’s financial reporting reveals an anomalously low profitability rate against a backdrop of billions in turnover:
2023: Revenue — 3.69 billion UAH, net profit — 9.6 million UAH;
2024: Revenue — 4.24 billion UAH, net profit — 2 million UAH;
2025: Revenue remained stable at the previous year’s level, net profit — 112 thousand UAH.
Despite ongoing criminal proceedings and tax claims, LLC «Pharmastor» remains a major player in the state procurement market, having participated in 747 tenders. The peak of its success occurred in 2024, with contracts totaling 40.8 million UAH. In 2025, the contract volume amounted to 16 million UAH, and in the first five months of 2026, the company has already signed agreements worth 7.6 million UAH in budget funds.
The primary buyers of these medications include:
Kyiv City Hospital «Psychiatry» (25.7 million UAH);
A specialized territorial medical association in Zaporizhzhia (over 9 million UAH);
The Main Military Clinical Hospital (3.3 million UAH);
The Military Medical Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) (1.4 million UAH).
The materials of the criminal case involve virtually the entire business ecosystem of Ihor Chervonenko: «Apteka Dobroho Dnia,» MC «Iris,» «Pharma-City,» «Apteka Mirra,» «Biokon,» and others. This is not the first time these legal entities have drawn the attention of regulatory bodies.
Previously, the State Fiscal Service investigated case No. 756/16262/20 regarding potential tax evasion amounting to 7.4 million UAH through non-commodity transactions and fictitious advertising services designed to minimize taxes. Furthermore, companies within the group have surfaced in inquiries regarding suspicious insurance schemes and a corruption case involving officials from the «Kyivreklama» municipal enterprise.
Separate episodes involve violations of regulations governing the sale of strictly controlled substances. In the city of Lubny, law enforcement recorded the over-the-counter sale of codeine-containing medications without a fiscal receipt. Additionally, the manager of a pharmacy in Poltava was tried for the illegal dispensing of narcotics (case No. 554/5476/22); however, she pleaded guilty, was exempted from criminal liability by the Oktyabrsky District Court of Poltava, and was released into the custody of her workplace collective.
The operations of the «Apteka Dobroho Dnia» network, alongside other retail giants («9-1-1,» «Podorozhnyk,» «Bazhaiemo Zdorovia»), have also become the subject of a formal review by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU). The probe was launched following a complaint filed by the pharmaceutical company «Darnitsa.»
The complainant alleges that starting in February 2025, major pharmacy chains organized a de facto boycott, artificially removing medications manufactured by three leading Ukrainian plants from their shelves, despite consistently high public demand for these essential drugs.
The Antimonopoly Committee suggests that such coordinated actions could constitute a severe violation of competition law. If the companies are found guilty, they face heavy financial penalties. The official AMCU investigation remains ongoing.