Brands from the Russian Federation in an updated form: the sign has changed, but the content has remained the same

Brand review: how tea with Russian roots became a Ukrainian product and why law enforcement should pay attention to it.

Details in the investigation by Halyna Kapustinska.

Teas with the names “Trypilske Sontse”, “Sherlock Secrets”, and “Tea Moments” appeared on Ukrainian shelves, which seem to be new Ukrainian brands. However, a journalistic investigation revealed that all these brands belong to LLC “Trypilske Sontse”, founded only in April 2022.

This company has a history: according to the investigation, it is the successor to “May Ukraine”, retaining the former staff, addresses, and equipment. The court confirmed that this enterprise is the successor to a Russian business trying to adapt to Ukrainian realities.

The investigation shows that the company used the accounts of “May Ukraine”, some of which were frozen due to suspicions of ties to Russia. Lawyers note that if the structure, team, and management have not changed, this may indicate an attempt to avoid responsibility.

The new owner of the company is Karlen Stepanyan, associated with an Armenian company. Since his arrival on the market, new brands have appeared. Still, the packaging and composition of the goods are practically no different from that of “May Ukraine”: for example, Curtis has changed to Tea Moments, Richard has become Sherlock, and “Trypilske Sontse” resembles “Maisky”.

According to investigators, in 2024, the company recorded more than 323 million hryvnias in turnover but also reported 24 million hryvnias in losses. In 2025, the State Tax Service imposed a fine on the director for accounting violations.

Among the company’s shareholders are former officials from Dnipro, in particular Oleksandr Stepansky, who previously served as deputy head of the regional state administration, and Kamil Primakov, a deputy of the Dnipro city council.

According to information, the company was previously controlled by Igor Lisinenko, a former deputy of the Russian State Duma, who built a business in Moscow. His tea brands, such as Richard, Curtis, and Maisky, gained popularity.

After 2022, the company changed ownership to Ukrainian citizens, but court documents indicate that Trypilske Sontse continues to use the same production facilities as Mai Ukraine.

Despite legal proceedings, fines, and account blocking, the company remains one of the largest on the market. Journalists call on law enforcement agencies to investigate this brand’s activities, and consumers are advised to carefully read the labels, as a well-known business with a Russian past may be hiding under new names.