Company «Mirovaya Technika» — a successful player in the Russian agricultural and construction equipment market. In the 2000s, MirTech developed rapidly. It became a representative of major global brands in Russia. Connections with the influential Tkachev family strengthened the business and expanded its partnership network. Financial data for 2023, reviewed by Protocol, shows that a significant portion of Mirovaya Technika’s income is linked to trade with sanctioned firms. The documents mention organizations registered in Crimea and other occupied territories of Ukraine.
Under the Banner of Success
Eighty-three years ago, Robert Lincoln Krattli was born in the U.S. state of Colorado. Little is known about his life in the United States; he worked in the industrial sector. In 1973, Robert Krattli arrived in the USSR “to participate in the construction of the large industrial enterprise KAMAZ” and later stayed to live in Moscow. By the time the Soviet Union collapsed, Robert continued working in the Russian market. He reflected on business in post-Soviet Russia and participated in Russian-American seminars.
In the late 1990s, he attended a seminar in Saratov focused on industrial enterprises. There, Robert met Natalia Podmogilnaya, an employee at the defense plant Tantal. In April 1999, Robert and Natalia founded Mirovaya Technika. He became the general director, and she was his deputy. Immediately, MirTech became the official representative of Caterpillar in Russia. This American company is one of the largest global manufacturers of construction and mining equipment.
In 2000, MirTech opened a branch in the Krasnodar region. A year later, the company became the official representative of the German firm Claas, one of the world’s leaders in agricultural machinery production. “Traditionally, at our booth, the main player is, of course, Claas, which today supplies forage and grain harvesting equipment to Russia,” said Kirill Krattli, general director of Mirovaya Technika, at the YugAgro exhibition.
By 2003, Mirovaya Technika was negotiating with the Krasnodar region administration to build a Claas plant in the regional capital. That same year, the foundation of the future plant was laid, with Governor Alexander Tkachev personally attending the event. The plant opened in 2005. By its tenth anniversary, MirTech represented 19 companies producing agricultural and construction equipment, including five of the largest global brands.
In the late 2000s, Natalia married Robert Krattli and changed her last name. Her son from a previous marriage, Kirill, also took the Krattli surname. In 2011, Kirill Krattli married Anastasia Tkacheva, the daughter of State Duma deputy Alexey Tkachev. Her father was not only a deputy but also the brother of the then-governor of Krasnodar Krai. In 2013, Kirill Krattli became the general director of Mirovaya Technika.
After the Krattli and Tkachev families united, Mirovaya Technika flourished even further. In 2013, the German company Claas announced plans to build a second plant in Krasnodar. Two years later, the company opened new production facilities in the Kuban capital. Mirovaya Technika actively expanded beyond the Krasnodar region and Saratov, where it had been founded. In 2015, MirTech opened two new service centers in the Voronezh region. At a meeting between the region’s governor and Robert and Natalia Krattli, State Duma deputy Alexey Tkachev was personally present. In 2017, Kirill Krattli gave interviews about MirTech’s activities in two Black Earth regions — Voronezh and Belgorod.
In 2019, Mirovaya Technika continued to expand its production capabilities and increase localization of its products. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Claas plants in Krasnodar operated at full capacity. The company obtained permission to construct new facilities and increased its workforce by 10%. The permit was personally handed to Claas general director Michael Ritter by the mayor of Krasnodar, Yevgeny Pervyshov. The company also operates outside Russia. In the United States, the firm MirTech Harvest Center is a major dealer of agricultural equipment for the Mississippi Delta region.
In mid-February 2022, media reported that the Claas plant in Krasnodar became the sole supplier of TUCANO 320 combines for global markets. The main buyers of this combine model were farms in Poland, Serbia, and Romania. After the war began, and as Western companies began exiting Russia en masse, Claas announced plans to continue its operations in Russia. Later, the Ukrainian office of Claas stated that the company’s plant in Krasnodar had suspended operations. Media outlets discussed a possible relocation of the plant to Kazakhstan, though the company declined to comment on the possibility. Currently, Mirovaya Technika continues to maintain its social media presence and advertise Claas products in both Russian and English.
Agrarian Mafia
If the Krattli family’s company is Mirovaya Technika, then for the Tkachevs, it’s Agrocomplex, the largest agro-industrial holding in Russia. It was founded in 1993 in the Krasnodar region by Nikolai Tkachev, the father of former minister Alexander Tkachev and current deputy Alexey Tkachev. Members of this family, occupying key positions both in the region and at the federal level, created all the necessary conditions for the successful growth of the company. During Alexander Tkachev’s governorship, the holding rapidly expanded its land bank.
The Agrocomplex company has repeatedly been accused of land grabs in the Krasnodar region. In 2009, the general director of CJSC Pobeda, Anatoly Garbuz, claimed that the enterprise was seized under pressure. It later came under the control of Agrocomplex. In 2016, farmers from the Dinsky district and the Kazanskaya stanitsa stated that their plots were illegally confiscated and unsuccessfully tried to reclaim them through the courts. That same year, one of the farmers committed suicide. Relatives linked the tragedy to threats from agroholdings. Despite this, the company denies the accusations, insisting that the transactions were lawful. Additionally, Agrocomplex acquired land that had previously belonged to the Tsapok criminal gang.
In 2022, the company’s land bank reached 1.1 million hectares, making it the largest agricultural holding in the Krasnodar region and one of the leading players in Russia.
In December 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that Agrocomplex, owned by Alexander Tkachev, had acquired over 160,000 hectares of agricultural land in the occupied regions of Ukraine. Ukrainian companies HarvEast, Nibulon, and Agroton accused the holding of land seizures, sometimes involving armed threats. The land was taken through document re-registration or by forcing farmers to hand over a share of their harvests.
Despite these and many other scandals, Agrocomplex has not yet been subjected to any international sanctions. This company is linked to Mirovaya Technika not only through the familial ties of the Tkachevs and Krattlis. Agrocomplex and its subsidiaries are regular clients of MirTech. Financial reports of Mirovaya Technika and its Kuban branch for 2023, obtained by Protocol, reveal that in total, MirTech earned almost €136 million in 2023.
Agrocomplex and its subsidiaries purchased goods and services worth €4.7 million, accounting for more than 5% of the revenue of Mirovaya Technika-Kuban and about 3.5% of the total amount, including the parent company.
Trade Secret
According to financial documentation, «MirTech» maintains close financial ties with Western companies and their legal entities registered in Russia. For instance, in 2023, «MirTech» and its Kuban branch transferred almost €32.97 million to the company «Claas Vostok.» This firm is directly owned by a German company, with its general director being German citizen Dirk Seelig. Only three out of 283 transactions were for agricultural equipment rental, and two involved «information and consulting services.» Most of the payments were designated for equipment and spare parts.
Another company with German ties is the logistics firm «Heinrich Tapp Rus.» In the summer of 2024, Reuters reported that this firm helps Russian companies under Western sanctions bypass restrictions. Among its clients are limousine manufacturer «Aurus» and «KamAZ.» In 2023, «MirTech» used this company’s services 147 times, transferring a total of €490,110.
Reuters also mentioned that «Heinrich Tapp Rus» was founded by former employees of another German company, «Hellmann,» which announced its departure from Russia after the start of the war with Ukraine in 2022. The legal entity of «Hellmann» was later renamed «CLM Solutions,» though it still appears in «MirTech’s» financial records under its old name. Commercial registry data indicates that this firm has been owned by the German company «Hee Trans European Management East GmbH» since April 2018. In total, «MirTech» paid €395,604 to «Hellmann» for storage, transportation, and technical inspections.
Among other suppliers used by «MirTech» are European companies. «Gregoire-Besson,» one of the world’s oldest agricultural machinery manufacturers, provided spare parts worth €209,890 to «MirTech.» The company also purchased equipment and spare parts worth €5.82 million from the Russian legal entity of «Maschio Gaspardo,» an Italian agricultural equipment manufacturer.
A significant share of goods and services procured in 2023 came from South Korean companies. «MirTech» and its Kuban branch transferred more than €15.38 million to «HD Hyundai Infracore Co. Ltd.,» a company specializing in excavators under the «Doosan» brand. Payments were made for industrial and construction equipment as well as related services. In most cases, it is unclear what exactly «MirTech» purchased, as payment descriptions only mention «goods,» «construction equipment,» or «spare parts.» Additionally, «MirTech» bought «Kixx» motor oil from the Russian subsidiary of the South Korean company «GS Caltex,» spending a total of €145,055.
The supplier list also includes Turkish companies. «MirTech» purchased equipment and spare parts worth €1.66 million from «Hidromek» and its Russian subsidiary. From the Russian subsidiary of the Brazilian company «Stara,» the company bought spare parts worth €38,462.
Part of the transactions involves trade with a Cypriot offshore entity. «MirTech» is fully owned by a namesake firm registered in Cyprus. Russian companies under the «MirTech» umbrella also purchase equipment from this offshore entity. Most transactions involve excavators, but some relate to agricultural machinery. In a few cases, the origin countries of the equipment—Canada and South Korea—are specified. In 2023, «MirTech» and its Kuban branch procured equipment worth €5.77 million from the Cypriot offshore entity.
Beyond «MirTech,» the Krattli family owns another company, «Agro-Prime,» whose primary activity is also trading agricultural equipment. This company transferred more than €5.29 million to the Cypriot offshore entity of «MirTech,» mainly for irrigation systems procured in Turkey, including drip irrigation systems, centrifugal pumps, sprinkling equipment, irrigation control systems, pipelines, connectors, and filtration systems.
The total amount transferred to the mentioned foreign companies and their legal entities is €68.13 million. Of this, 57.7% was paid to European companies, 26.1% to companies from Turkey, South Korea, and Brazil, and 16.2% to the Cypriot offshore entity (including transactions by «Agro-Prime»).
The Edge of the Law
In addition to the companies from which «MirTech» procured goods, «Protocol» also examined transactions with companies to which the Krattli firms sold goods and services. We divided these companies into three categories:
- Companies registered in occupied Crimea and Sevastopol that are not included in any sanctions lists.
- Companies sanctioned exclusively by Ukraine, as Ukraine is a party to the ongoing military conflict.
- Legal entities included in sanctions lists by European countries and the United States. Inclusion in these lists significantly hampers a company’s ability to operate in global markets, as U.S. and EU sanctions are the most influential in the world.
First Category. In 2023, «MirTech» received almost €19,780 from companies registered in Crimea and Sevastopol. One of these companies is the «Center for Economic Cooperation of the Republics.» According to «Vedomosti,» this firm was created to «establish strong and reliable connections between economic entities in Crimea and Donbas.» Another company, «Aval,» registered in Sevastopol, purchased spare parts from «MirTech.» According to media reports, this is the former Ukrainian company «Avlita,» now involved in the illegal trade of grain from Russian-occupied territories, as even Russian state media confirm.
Second Category. In 2023, «MirTech» traded with 12 companies under Ukrainian sanctions or connected to sanctioned individuals at the time of the transactions, receiving €7.37 million from them. Leasing company «Europlan» accounted for 23.7% of this amount, purchasing «self-propelled machinery.» Since 2022, «Europlan» and its general director, Sergey Mizura, have been under Ukrainian sanctions. The firm is 87.5% owned by the investment holding «SFI,» which has managed to evade international sanctions.
«SFI» was previously owned by the Gutseriev family. In 2021, Mikhail Gutseriev, one of Russia’s wealthiest individuals, was sanctioned by the UK and Canada. He subsequently stepped down from the SFI board. In 2022, his son, Said Gutseriev, was also sanctioned by the UK and followed suit.
Another €13,190 came from «Cherkizovo-Pig Breeding,» a subsidiary of «Cherkizovo,» which has been under Ukrainian sanctions since fall 2022. «Cherkizovo» is Russia’s largest meat producer.
Other companies under Ukrainian sanctions include «Baltic Leasing,» «Stroymagistral,» «Sfera,» «Rosagroleasing,» and «Atomenergoremont.» Billionaire Mikhail Nikolaev also purchased from «MirTech.» These individuals and entities continued to make payments after being added to Ukraine’s sanctions list.
One noteworthy case is «Gazprombank Auto Leasing,» fully owned by «Gazprombank Leasing.» This company has been under Ukrainian sanctions since summer 2024. At the time of the transactions, neither entity was under sanctions. However, in 2023, «Gazprombank Auto Leasing» purchased 11 South Korean «Doosan» excavators from the Kuban branch of «MirTech» for €1.76 million. Additionally, the main company sold the same number of «Doosan» excavators, four Turkish «Hidromek» excavators, and other equipment to «Gazprombank Auto Leasing,» bringing in an additional €2.2 million. Another €3.16 million was paid by «Karkade,» a company also 100% owned by «Gazprombank Leasing.»
Third Category. Four companies from the list belong to the joint-stock company «Gazstroyprom»—»GSP-6,» «GSP-2,» «GSP-5,» and «GSP-Mechanization.»
Since September 14, 2023, «Gazstroyprom» has been under U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions. The EU added the company to its sanctions list in December 2024. Subsidiaries of «Gazstroyprom» paid «MirTech» €797,800, some of which occurred before the company was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury. Notably, 60% of the total payments were made to «MirTech Kuban» on the very day «Gazstroyprom» was added to the sanctions list. Another €57,200 was transferred in December.
«Rostvertol,» a joint-stock company under sanctions by the EU, U.S., Ukraine, and Switzerland, purchased unspecified transport equipment from «MirTech Kuban» for almost €76,900 in 2023.
Leasing companies owned by Russian banks also purchased equipment and spare parts from «MirTech.» These companies, listed as long-term partners on «MirTech’s» website, include «Sberbank Leasing,» «VTB Leasing,» and «Sovcombank Leasing,» which were sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 and later by Ukraine in 2023-2024. They acquired equipment from South Korean «Doosan,» German «Claas,» Italian «Maschio Gaspardo,» and Turkish «Hidromek,» paying a total of €4.64 million.
«RB Leasing,» not under any sanctions, is fully owned by «Rosbank,» which is sanctioned by the UK, EU, U.S., Ukraine, and Switzerland. In 2023, «RB Leasing» purchased an excavator and agricultural sprayer from «MirTech Kuban» for €230,800.
Another company, «Alfamobil,» is also not directly sanctioned but is 98% owned by «Alfa-Leasing,» which has been under U.S. sanctions since 2022. Both entities are ultimately controlled by «Alfa Group.» In 2023, «Alfamobil» paid «MirTech» €4.93 million for 24 South Korean «Doosan» excavators, five Turkish «Hidromek» excavators, and one loader from the Chinese company «Wecan.»
In total, companies in the third category paid «MirTech» almost €10.64 million in 2023, accounting for about 59% of all companies listed in the three categories.
«Agro-Prime,» owned by the Krattli family, sold over €10.98 million worth of goods and services in 2023. Among its clients, only two companies are under U.S. sanctions—»VTB Leasing» and «Alfamobil.» These companies purchased automatic loaders from the American company «Bobcat.»
Two other entities on the list, Kuban State Agrarian University and «Kshenyagro,» are under Ukrainian sanctions. In total, «Agro-Prime» sold goods and services worth €2.59 million to sanctioned or affiliated companies. Of this, 93% comes from «Kshenyagro.» Trade with these companies accounted for 22.4% of all «Agro-Prime» sales in 2023.
Sanctions Without Consequences
In 2015, the governor of the Krasnodar region, Alexander Tkachev, told students at Kuban University that he could not leave Russia for Europe: “I am indeed on a sanctions list. Unfortunately or fortunately, I cannot go to Europe, America, Canada—if I remember correctly—or Australia.” While it is true that Tkachev was sanctioned for supporting the annexation of Crimea, his claim that sanctions prevented him from traveling to the European Union is questionable. In 2016, as Russia’s Minister of Agriculture, Alexander Tkachev traveled to France to participate in a session of the World Organisation for Animal Health. A year later, he attended an agricultural summit in Berlin.
While France made no public comments about granting a visa to the Russian Minister of Agriculture, Germany offered an explanation, stating that invitations to the summit had been sent to all G20 agriculture ministers, including Russia’s.
Data reviewed by Protocol provides further context. The issue is not only the selective enforcement of sanctions but also the ineffectiveness of their regulatory mechanisms, as seen in the case of the Tkachev family and their relatives. Sanction restrictions fail to isolate or diminish the activity of sanctioned individuals and entities. Close ties with foreign partners, circumvention through intermediaries and offshore entities, point to systemic loopholes.
More than 13% of «MirTech’s» total revenue comes from providing services to companies sanctioned by European countries, the United States, and Ukraine. «MirTech» not only engages in dubious operations itself but also entangles foreign companies that it represents in Russia.
As the official distributor of the German company «Claas» and several other foreign firms in Russia, «MirTech» works with companies operating in occupied territories. This includes the supply of spare parts and equipment to companies connected to occupation structures. Furthermore, «MirTech’s» activities are directly linked to partners exploiting Ukrainian agricultural lands seized by force. The lack of significant consequences for «MirTech» and «Agrocomplex» encourages the repetition of such schemes.
Before 2022, Russian MP Alexey Tkachev was subject only to Ukrainian sanctions. The same applies to his daughter, son-in-law, and their parents, who continue to travel freely around the world. Alexey Tkachev’s wife regularly visits the United States, and his grandson was born in Los Angeles.
This story not only raises ethical questions about the foreign companies represented by «MirTech» but also highlights how their equipment has become a tool for exploiting resources in occupied territories. This makes these companies indirectly complicit in the systemic support of Russia’s aggression.