The Sverdlovsk region facility known as Kosulinsky Multidisciplinary Enterprise, a dairy producer producing fermented milk products, has been rocked by a payroll crisis that left workers waiting for weeks and months without salaries. The enterprise was led by Dmitry Bely, a figure connected to the company through its operations, who later left for service overseas. Local outlets report that Bely departed to participate in a military operation in what is described as a special operation zone, a move that coincided with a sharp drop in on-site activity at the plant.
According to multiple witnesses from the plant, wages remained unpaid for an extended period, creating anxiety among staff and leading to rumors about the company’s stability. The cessation of work at the facility became evident after Bely’s absence began, and store shelves stopped receiving the company’s fermented dairy products, signaling a halt in production and distribution for an unknown duration.
Staff members say that while some chose to leave, the formal process to resign could not proceed. The absence of a legally authorized signatory within the enterprise blocked the issuing of formal termination declarations, complicating attempts to reallocate labor or pursue new employment opportunities for workers still tied to the company by contract or obligation.
In response to these uncertainties, several workers formed an organizing group to determine the director’s whereabouts and to clarify the status of their employment. It emerged that Dmitry Bely had entered into a contractual arrangement with a government body and had relocated to participate in the conflict zone, intensifying concerns about the plant’s management and future operations.
Investigations described by the publication indicate that a criminal case has been opened by the Investigative Committee for non-payment of wages. The case signals official scrutiny of the company’s payroll practices and the legal questions surrounding overdue salaries, drawing attention from regional authorities and labor rights advocates alike.
Meanwhile, questions about the company’s long-term viability remain. Journalists note that the Kosulinsky Multidisciplinary Enterprise began showing financial strain in the year prior, with partners initiating arbitration proceedings due to failures to meet contractual obligations. That financial deterioration laid the groundwork for the current disruption, complicating efforts to resolve the wage arrears and to restore normal operations without a clear sign of leadership able to sign off on formal decisions.
The situation has prompted concern among employees separated from the workforce as well as local distributors who depend on steady production cycles. Without a confirmed legal representative within the company, the ability to negotiate settlements, reappoint leadership, and reinstate payroll and product supply remains uncertain. The broader regional economic picture is affected as suppliers, distributors, and retail partners seek clarity on the plant’s status and the prospects for resumed production and timely salary payments.
Vasily Starkov, a former minister associated with regional transport responsibilities, reportedly left the region toward the same zone of operations. His departure, along with other leadership changes, has contributed to a sense of transitional disruption at the enterprise and raised questions about governance, accountability, and the steps necessary to protect workers while the company navigates its financial and legal challenges.