The producer who financed the film about Zelenskyi may be involved in an international fraud scheme – mass media

“ Ukrainian film producer Elvira Gavrylova-Paterson, who provided funds for a film about President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, may be involved in an international fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme, according to an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). Source: “Investigation. Info”, which, together with 37 media from around the world, joined this investigation. Details: Journalists found that the Portuguese company Gavrilova-Paterson Elledgy Media Group promoted the platforms of Kazakhstan native Volodymyr Okhotnikov, known as Lado, who is the alleged organizer of a series of fraudulent operations with cryptocurrency, since 2024. Okhotnikov’s scheme over the past 5 years has spread to four continents and allowed him to collect about 1 billion dollars from millions of investors. In the US, he was accused of stealing at least $340 million from investors between 2020 and 2022. And in Georgia, Okhotnikov was convicted of laundering 1.1 million dollars of income from Forsage. According to investigators, Okhotnikov currently lives in the United Arab Emirates, and 36-year-old Ukrainian marketing specialist Gavrilova-Paterson promotes his brands abroad. The man himself is unable to travel, as he may have been arrested in a number of countries around the world. Journalists found out that over the past 2 years, Gavrilova’s PR agency Elledgy Media organized a number of events with the participation of stars in the USA, France, Italy, India and the UAE to promote Okhotnikov’s projects. In a confidential correspondence with her legal adviser, Gavrilova reported that during this time, more than 4 million dollars “passed” through the accounts of her company, which is registered in Portugal. In 2025, Portuguese authorities began investigating Elledgy on suspicion of money laundering. Elledgy also co-produced the movie “Saga of the Holiguards – Portal of Power”, which starred Kevin Spacey and was written and co-produced by Okhotnikov. It is noted that the tape cost about 10 million dollars. In addition, Gavrilova-Paterson reported that in 2022 she participated in the creation of the film “Superpower” by the American director Sean Penn, which told about Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the work of the President’s Office at the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia. Gavrilova-Paterson said that she “was part of the executive producers of the film Superpower” and also “gave funds, attracted financing for the film.” The investigation also states that Gavrilova cooperated with the NGO “Union of Entrepreneurs of the TV and Film Industry”, which belongs to the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak. Journalists noted that in August 2025, the head of this organization and Yermak’s business partner Artem Kolyubayev, who until April 2024 headed the Council for State Support of Cinematography, attended the presentation of the trailer for the film “Holiguards Saga – The Portal of Force” in Venice and sat next to the film’s co-producer Gavrilova. In a comment to Slidstvu.Info, Kolyubaev stated that he had nothing to do with Gavrilova, and only knew her “through several volunteer events.” The journalists also found out that Gavrilova in Ukraine had a connection with the international company “Teletrade”, which is being investigated for fraud. Journalists reached out to Gavrilova-Paterson for comment on her role in an international fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme, but she did not respond. The head of OP Andriy Yermak also did not respond to the inquiry of Slidstva.Info journalists regarding the role of Gavrilova-Paterson in the filming of the film, which, among other things, involved access to the president’s bunker in the first days of the war.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua

Yermak’s business partner Artem Kolyubaev (in black) and film producer Elvira Gavrilova-Paterson at the trailer presentation for the film Saga of the Holiguards – Portal of Power. Photo from “Slidsva.Info”