#alexander lobanov

[alwaysfrowningslightly]

Baruch Dayan emet.

For all of our murdered family, stolen and starved. We loved you, and missed you, and prayed for your return.

We will always miss you.

[jewishstargal]

Waking up to see the news that Hersh and five others were murdered. They were alive just days ago. They survived for this long, only for lives to be cut short by the bullets of Hamas.

They were in Rafah. Where everyone said not to go, that's where they were. To everyone who said don't go into Rafah, their blood is on your hands.

[elliebelliegirl]

almog sarusi and alexander lobanov were found. may their memories be a blessing

[hidingintheaether]

💔

All of Israel mourns the loss of these six beautiful souls.

May Hashem bring comfort to their families, may their memories be for a blessing, and may Hashem avenge them.

[lesfruitsdores]

Who are the hostages still held by Hamas?

On October 7, 2023, 253 Israelis and foreign nationals were kidnapped to Gaza by Hamas and gazan civilians. Since then, 105 were released in a prisioner exchange deal, 4 were released by Hamas and 3 were rescued.

However, 60 remain in captivity [as of 02/09/24] (4 of those were kidnapped prior to 2023). A recent investigation has concluded that more than a fifth of the hostages are dead and the fate of some other hostages remains unknown. This video explains how doctors determine which hostages are dead, based on the nature of their injury and by analyising footage and the victims' last phone calls. Additionally, during the operation in Gaza, the IDF has recovered the bodies of a few victims and returned to their families for burial.

Since I couldn't find this all in one place, I've compiled a list of: 1) hostages who are presumed alive; 2) hostaged whose death has been reported/confirmed; 3) hostages who were released or rescued. In the group of hostages presumed to be alive who haven't been released, the youngest is 1-year-old Kfir Bibas and the oldest hostage is Iraqi-born 85-year old Shlomo Mansour.

As we learn more information, I'll continue to update this post.

They need to come back home. I'm hoping for more successful rescue operations soon. Keep them in your thoughts.

Hostages still held by Hamas (presumed alive or fate unknown):

(1) (2) (3)

Abraham Eitan Mor (23)

Agam Berger (19)

Alexander (Sasha) Trupanob (28)

Alon Ohel (22)

Arbel Yehoud (28)

Ariel Bibas (4)

Ariel Cunio (26)

Avera Mengistu (37) – Has been held hostage since 2014

Avinathan Or (30)

Bar Kupershtein (22)

Bipin Joshi (23)

Daniel Gilboa (19)

David Cunio (33)

Doron Steinbrecher (30)

Edan Alexander (20)

Eitan Horn (37)

Eli Sharabi (51)

Eliya Cohen (26)

Elkana Bohbot (34)

Evytar David (23)

Gadi Moses (79)

Gali Berman (26)

Guy Gilboa-Dalal (22)

Hamzah Al-Zayadni (22)

Hisham al-Sayed (35) - Has been held hostage since 2015

Yair Horn (45)

Idan Shivi (28)

Itzhk Elgarat (68)

Karina Ariev (19)

Kfir Bibas (1)

Liri Albag (18)

Matan Angrest (21)

Matan Zangauker (24)

Maxim Herkin (35)

Naama Levy (19)

Nimrod Cohen (19)

Oded Lifshitz (83)

Ofer Kalderon (53)

Ohad Ben Ami (55)

Ohad Yahalomi (49)

Omer Neutra (22)

Omer Shem Tov (21)

Omer Wenkert (22)

Omri Miran (46)

Or Levy (33)

Rom Braslavski (19)

Romi Gonen (23)

Sagui Dekel-Chen (35)

Samuel Keith Siegel (64)

Segev Kalfon (25)

Shiri Bibas (32)

Shlomo Mansour (85)

Tal Shoham (38)

Tamir Nimrod (19)

Tsachi Idan (51)

Yagev Kirsht (34)

Yarden Bibas (34)

Yosef Al-Zayadni (53)

Yosef Ohana (23)

Ziv Berman (26)

Hostages confirmed/reported dead:

(Note: I couldn't find a report with the full list, but if you google each individual name you can find sources.)

Abraham Munder (79) - Body recovered on 20/08/24.

Alex Danzig (75) - Body recovered on 20/08/24.

Alexander Lobanov (32)

Almog Sarusi (26)

Alon Shamriz (26) – Mistakenly killed by the IDF

Amit Buskila (28) - Likely killed on Oct. 7. Body recovered on 17/05/24.

Amiram Cooper (84) - Status updated on 03/06/24.

Arye Zalmanovich (85) - Death reported by Hamas. He was forced to appear in a propaganda video.

Asaf Hamami (41)

Aviv Atzili (49)

Carmel Gat (39) - Body recovered on 31/08/24.

Chaim Peri (79) - Status updated on 03/06/24.

Daniel Oz (19) - Killed on Oct. 7. Status updated on 25/02/24

Daniel Perez (22) - Killed on Oct. 7. Status updated on 17/03/24

Dolev Yehoud (35) - Killed on Oct. 7. He was presumed to be a hostage, but his remains were found in Israel after months. Status updated on 03/06/24.

Dror Kaplun (68)

Dror Or (48) - Killed on Oct. 7. Status updated on 02/05/24.

Eden Yerushalmi (24) - Body recovered on 31/08/24.

Eden Zecharya (28)

Eitan Levy (53)

Elad Katzir (47) - Murdered by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. His body was recovered in Khan Yunis. Status updated on 06/04/24.

Eliyahu Margalit (75)

Elyakim Libman (23) - Killed on Oct. 7. It was presumed he was a hostage because his body wasn't found, but it was later discovered his remains were accidentally buried with another victim. Status updated on 03/05/24.

Gad Haggai (73)

Guy Iluz (26)

Hadar Goldin (32) - Body held hostage since 2014

Hanan Yablonka (42) - Killed on Oct. 7. Body recovered on 24/05/24.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin (23) - Body recovered on 31/08/24.

Ilan Weiss (56)

Inbar Haiman (27)

Itay Chen (19) - Killed on Oct. 7. Status updated on 12/03/24.

Itay Svirsky (35) – Killed by Hamas in captivity. His body was shown in a propaganda video

Itzik Gelenter (58) - Likely killed on Oct. 7. Body recovered on 17/05/24.

Joshua Loitu Mollel (21) – A released video shows how he was brutally murdered by a group of men on October 7

Judy Weinstein (70)

Kiril Brodski (19)

Lior Rudaeff (61) - Killed on Oct. 7. His body was taken to Gaza. Status updated on 07/05/24.

Maya Goren (56)

Mordechai Yonathan Samerano (21) - Killed on Oct. 7. His body was taken to Gaza.

Nadav Popplewell (51) - Status updated on 03/06/24.

Nik Beizer (19)

Noa Marciano (19) – Her body was found near the Al-Shifa hospital

Michel Nisenbaum (59) - Killed on Oct. 7. Body recovered on 24/05/24.

Muhammed Alatrash (40) - Killed on Oct. 7. Status updated on 24/06/24.

Ofir Tzarfati (27)

Ofra Keider (70)

Oren Goldin (34)

Ori Danino (24) - Body recovered on 31/08/24.

Orión Hernandez (30) - Killed on Oct. 7. Body recovered on 24/05/24.

Oron Shaul (30) – Body held hostage since 2014

Ran Gvlli (24)

Ravid Katz (41)

Ron Benjamin (53) - Killed on Oct. 7 and his body was taken to Gaza. Body recovered on 18/05/24.

Ron Scherman (19)

Ronen Engel (54)

Sahar Baruch (24) – Killed by Hamas during a failed hostage rescue operation

Samer Talalka (22) – Mistakenly killed by the IDF

Shay Levinson (19)

Shani Louk (22) - Body taken to Gaza. Her body was recovered on 17/05/24.

Sonthaya Oakkharasr - Killed on Oct. 7. Body taken to Gaza. Status updated on 16/05/24.

Sudthisak Rinthalak - Killed on Oct. 7. Body taken to Gaza. Status updated on 16/05/24.

Tal Chaim (42)

Tamir Adar (38)

Tomer Ahimas (20)

Uriel Baruch (35) - Status updated on 26/03/24

Yagev Buchshtab (34)

Yair Yaakov (59) – Killed on Oct. 7. Sons and girlfriend were released. Status updated on 15/02/24.

Yehudit Weiss (65) – Her body was found near the Al-Shifa hospital

Yossi Sharabi (53) – His dead body was shown in a propaganda video

Yoram Metzer (80) - Status updated on 03/06/24.

Yotam Haim – Mistakenly killed by the IDF

Ziv Dado (36)

Released/rescued hostages:

(1) (2)

Abigail Edan, 4, American citizen

Ada Sagi, 75

Adi Shoham, 38

Adina Moshe, 72

Agam Goldstein-Almog, 17

Aisha Ziyadne, 17

Alma Avraham, 84

Alma Or, 13

Almog Meir Jan (21) - Rescued by the IDF on 08/06/24.

Amit Shani, 15

Amit Soussana, 40

Andrey Zozlov (27) - Rescued by The IDF on 08/06/24.

Anucha Angkaew

Aviv Asher, 2, German citizen

Aviva Adrienne Siegel, 62

Bancha Kongmanee, Thai national

Bilal Ziyadne, 18

Boonthom Phankhong, Thai national

Buddee Saengboon, Thai national

Chalermchai Sangkaew

Channa Peri, 79

Chen Goldstein-Almog, 48

Clara Marman, 63, Argentine citizen

Daniel Aloni, 44

Dafna Elyakim, 15

Doron Katz Asher, 34, German citizen

Ditza Heiman, 84

Emilia Aloni, 5

Emily Toni Kornberg Hand, 8

Emma Cunio, 3, Argentine citizen

Erez Calderon, 12, French citizen

Eitan Yahalomi, 12, French citizen

Ela Elyakim, 8

Fernando Marman – Rescued by the IDF

Gabriela Leimberg, 59, Argentine citizen

Gal Goldstein-Almog, 11

Gal Tarshansky, 13

Gelienor (Jimmy) Pacheco, 37, Filipino national

Hagar Brodetz, 40

Hanna Katzir, 77

Hila Rotem Shoshani, 12

Ilana Gritzewsky Kimchi, 30

Irena Tati, 73, a Russian citizen, was included on the list but released separately from the exchange deal.

Itay Regev Jerbi, 18

Juckapan Sikena

Judith Raanan, 59 [Released 22/10/23]

Kaid Farhan Alkadi (52) - Rescued by the IDF on 27/08/24.

Karina Engel-Bart, 51, Argentine citizen

Keren Munder, 54

Komkrit Chombua

Kong Saelao

Liam Or, 18

Liat Beinin Atzili, 49, American citizen

Luis Har – Rescued by the IDF

Manee Jirachart

Margalit Mozes, 78, German citizen

Maya Regev Jirbi, 21

Meirav Tal, 53

Mia Leimberg, 17, Argentine citizen

Mia Shem, 21, French citizen

Mika Engel, 18, Argentine citizen

Mongkhol Phajuabboon, Thai national

Moran Stela Yanai, 40

Natalie Raanan, 17 [Released 22/10/23]

Nattaporn Onkaew

Natthawaree Moonkan, Thai national

Naveh Shoham, 8

Nili Margalit, 41

Noa Argamani (26) - Rescued by the IDF on 08/06/24.

Noam Avigdori, 12

Noga Weiss, 18

Noam Or, 17

Noralin Babadilla, 60, born in the Philippines

Nurit Cooper [Released 24/10/23]

Ofri Brodetz, 10

Ohad Munder, 9

Or Yaakov, 16, German citizen

Ori Megidish – Rescued by the IDF

Oriya Brodetz, 4

Owat Suriyasri, 40, father of two

Ofelia Adit Roitman, 77, born in Argentina

Ofir Engel, 17, Dutch citizen

Paiboon Rattanin

Pattanayut Tonsakree

Phonsawan Pinakalo

Ra’aya Rotem, 54

Raz Ben-Ami, 56, German citizen

Rimon Kirsht Buchshtav, 36

Raz Asher, 4, German citizen

Ron Krivoi, 25, an Israeli-Russian citizen, was included on the list, although he was released separately from the exchange deal.

Ruth Munder, 78

Sahar Calderon, 16, French citizen

Santi Boonphrom, Thai national

Sapir Cohen, 29

Shani Goren, 29

Sharon Aloni-Cunio, 34, Argentine citizen

Sharon Hertzman Avigdori, 52

Shlomi Ziv (40) - Rescued by the IDF on 08/06/24.

Shiri Weiss, 53

Shoshan Haran, 67

Surin Kesungnoen

Tal Goldstein-Almog, 8

Tamar Metzger, 78

Uthai Sangnuan, Thai national

Uthai Thunsri, Thai national

Wichai Kalapat, 28, Thai national

Wichian Temthon

Withoon Phumee, 33, Thai national

Yaffa Adar, 85

Yagil Yaakov, 12, German citizen

Yahel Shoham, 3

Yarden Roman-Gat, 35, German citizen

Yelena Trupanov, 50, a Russian citizen, was included on the list but released separately from the exchange deal.

Yocheved Lifshitz [Released 24/10/23]

Yuli Cunio, 3, Argentine citizen

Yuval Brodetz, 8

Yuval Engel, 12, Argentine citizen

[ne0n-garbage-angel]

DO NOT FORGET ABOUT THE SIX HOSTAGES KILLED BY HAMAS THIS WEEK

Hersh Goldberg-Polin

Eden Yerushalmi

Carmel Gat

Alexander Lobanov

Almog Sarusi

Ori Danino.

WE NEED TO BRING THE REMAINING HOSTAGES HOME. NOW. IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THIS, YOU ARE BENEATH CONTEMPT, AND YOUR DISREGARD AND FLAGRANT HATRED FOR HUMAN LIFE DISGUSTS ME.

[empressmcblondie]

Six people. They were someone's child. Someone's parent. Someone's sibling. Someone's friend. Six entire lives with their dreams, and their accomplishments, and their shortcomings, and their frustrations, and their beauty and their pain. Six souls that survived Hamas captivity for over 300 days after being taken from the safety of their homes and the Nova party, by a genocidal terrorist organization. Six marks of Cain on Binyamin Netanyahu who put the nails in their coffins. Six new bleeding wounds in our hearts. Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Carmel Gat, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino. Forgive us for abandoning you.

PSA to all you pro-Palestinians coming with your numbers, justifications, and rebuttals. I don't want to hear it. This post is not the space for you.

[jdsquared]

ז״לHersh Goldberg-Polin

Ori Danino ז״ל; Eden Yerushalmi ז״ל; Almog Sarusi ז״ל; Alexander Lobanov ז״ל; and Carmel Gat ז״ל

[proudzionist]

All eyes on Rafah please look for Alexander Lobanov, on Oct 7th he was taken hostage by terrorists !

[queenwille]

Alexander Lobanov, 32.🎗️

Also in the photo, 2 year old Tom, Alex’s first child who became a big brother to Kai last month while their father still remains in captivity.

[dertaglichedan]

Watch Tim Walz's shocking reaction when asked about Israeli hostages murdered in Gaza

Tim Walz appeared to make a quick escape Saturday when asked about the discovery of six slain hostages in the Gaza Strip.

The Minnesota governor was posed the question at his home state's state fair in St. Paul, hours after the bodies were found in an underground tunnel in the Rafah area of the city.

From the footage, it was unclear whether the potential vice president heard the inquiry, but as soon as it was uttered, he bid onlookers farewell.

The captives - identified Saturday as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Master Sgt Ori Danino - were among the more than 200 taken by militants on October 7.

Five were taken from the targeted Israeli music festival, and another from a nearby farming community. The IDF said all were 'brutally' murdered 'a short while' before troops were able to locate them.

[deborahdeshoftim5779]

Abed AlRahman Aatef Elziadna | Abed AlRahman Alensara | Ablum (Albert) Mills | Abu Qrenat | Adam Barima | Adam Iliev | Adi Danan | Adi Margalit | Adi Ohana | Adi Rivka Meisel | Adi Vitel Kaplon | Adiel Twito | Adir Mesika | Adir Tamam | Adrienne Neta | Alexander Dancyg | Alexander Lobanov | Alexander Samoilov | Alexandre Look | Alina Falhati | Alina Weissberg | Aline Kapshetar | Alisia Levine | Allysia Levine | Almog Sarusi | Alon Even | Alon Lulu Shamriz | Alon Shamli | Alon Toledano | Alon Verber | AlRahman Aatef Alziadna Abed | Amar Abu Sebila | Amin Akel AlKaran | Amir Tanbura | Amir Weiss | Amiram Cooper | Amit Ben Abeida | Amit Buskila | Amit Cohen | Amit Gabai | Amit Haim Cohen | Amit Lahav | Amit Levi | Amit Magnazi | Amit Yitzhak David | Amit Yitzhak David Barak Davidi | Amitai Ben Tzvi | Amitai Malihi | Amnon Betzalel | Ananda Shah | Andrei Zemkov | Angeline Agirs | Anita Lisman | Anna Ella Misheyev | Anton Guryanov | Antonio Massias Monteno | Anucha Sophakun | Anula Jayathilaka | Apichart Gusaram | Arbel Siman Tov | Arenthit Kayson | Arie Hefetz | Arieh Uzan | Arieh Zalmanovitch | Ariel Bilia | Arik (Arie) Peretz | Arnan Phetrkaeo | Arnatit Kayson | Aryeh Akuni | Ashish Chaudhary | Assaf Feber |

These are the names of just a few of the victims of October 7, those murdered by the horde of Nazi savages from Gaza, or those kidnapped and imprisoned within that moral sewer.

On October 6, all of these people were alive and minding their own business. They were living their own lives. Islamic terrorists from Gaza took that all away from them, leaving a permanent scar on their communities and the entire nation of Israel.

More names will be coming up soon.

[underthewingsofthblackeagle]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Germany in Israel (@germanyinisrael)

We all wake up to the horrible news of six more dead hostages found, killed by Hamas. One of them is Carmel Gat. Since 7/10, we at the embassy have stood with her family fighting for her release. Now, there is only the deepest sadness. Our thoughts are with her mourning family and the families of Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino. Now is the time to bring all 101 remaining hostages home!

[jewish-microwave-laser]

too many people are clutching their pearls about the columbia university encampment statement saying they don't like the us and not enough people are thinking about how they said they want to continue the "successes" of the "palestinian resistance" and bring those into the us. what successes would that be, that temporally align with your encampment, may i ask. would it be the nova massacre by chance. shall we discuss how this statement was released three days after the bodies of hersh goldberg-polin (23), eden yerushalmi (24), ori danino (25), almog sarusi (27), alexander lobanov (33), and carmel gat (40) were recovered after having recently been murdered

[rostilholond]

Lawsuit claims VC firm Target Global ‘concealed’ company’s links to Russia

The firm also confirmed to Sifted that sanctioned oligarch Alexander Abramov was previously an LP

Update on December 7 2023: On the 29 November, the Commercial Court said it would not proceed with the case as it had not been properly served, and that the claimant did not have an arguable case against Target Global or Jekaterina Dorofejeva.

A lawsuit brought against VC firm Target Global claims it concealed the Russian citizenship of the directors of an associated company as western sanctions against Kremlin-linked individuals began to bite. 

The case comes after the VC industry was scrutinised in the wake of UK sanctions against some Russian individuals, and as more startups are beginning to ask questions about their investors amid heightened geopolitical tensions. 

Target Global told Sifted that it had implemented controls to ensure compliance with sanctions and that none of its directors were Russian citizens. It also stressed to Sifted that none of its employees had ever met the lawsuit’s claimant, Iryna Gordiy, and that it was never party to an agreement with her. 

Target Global was founded in 2015 and has backed companies including Revolut, Auto1 and Delivery Hero. It’s one of the biggest pan-European funds and its website lists over 100 portfolio companies. Its last fund was announced in 2020 and brought assets under management to over €1bn. 

The firm was started by the son of a now-sanctioned Russian oligarch, Alexander Frolov Sr. For the first time, Target Global confirmed to Sifted that another sanctioned oligarch, Alexander Abramov, was also historically an LP, but is no longer one. 

The lawsuit

In November 2022, a company called Finadvant, a cross-border payments company based in London, was acquired by a Dutch cross-border payments company called Finom. Target Global had invested in both companies. 

The lawsuit was filed to the Commercial Court in London in July by Gordiy — who claims she had a sales purchase agreement with Finadvant. Gordiy is a Ukrainian entrepreneur and founder of Remeeta, also a cross-border payments company. 

The legal case claims that the founder of Finadvant, Jekaterina Dorofejeva, delayed reporting the change in ownership once the company was acquired and thereby “committed fraud by providing inaccurate information” to the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

It alleges that Finadvant’s founder told the FCA that she and Target Global were still minority shareholders in the company when, it is alleged, the company was allegedly owned in its entirety by PNL Fintech B.V. — the trading name for Finom.

A lawyer for the founder of Finadvant, Dorofejeva, said she had not committed any fraud, made any misrepresentation or participated in any wrongdoing. The lawyer also said the FCA had never indicated that it had received inaccurate information. 

Why is PNL Fintech/Finom significant?

The lawsuit alleges that PNL Fintech/Finom’s directors are Russian citizens and that it is primarily owned by Target Global. 

It claims that the delay in declaring PNL Fintech/Finom as the ultimate beneficial owner meant Target Global and Dorofejeva could bypass the enhanced checks required for Russian citizens.

Target Global, in an email to Sifted, said it is not, and has never been, the primary owner of PNL Fintech/Finom. It said it is a minority investor and is not in a position to control information the company passed to the FCA. 

Mikhail Lobanov, a cofounder of Target Global, is listed as a supervisory director of PNL Fintech/Finom in financial filings. Target Global confirmed he is a non-executive director of PNL. An SEC filing from March 2022 describes Lobanov as a Russian citizen. Target Global told Sifted last week that he is a citizen of Kyrgyzstan.

The lawsuit alleges that the delay could have been for legitimate reasons, or that “there may be other factors at play that are related to money laundering”.

Target Global said it was not in a position to answer the claims due to a lack of information, that it was never party to an agreement with the claimant and that none of its employees had ever met her.

Dorofejeva’s lawyer told Sifted that she had not committed any fraud, made any representation or participated in any wrongdoing, alleged or otherwise. He said that there were no money laundering issues at play and that the claims did not specify the allegations. 

Who owns Target Global?

Target Global was cofounded in 2015 by Yaron Valler, Shmuel Chafets, Mike Lobanov and Alexander Frolov, the son of Russian oligarch Alexander Frolov Sr. 

Frolov stood down from Target Global in November 2022, after his father was sanctioned by the UK government. Frolov Jr was never himself on a sanctions list but sold all his shares in Target Global to other shareholders, the firm told Sifted last week.

Target also told Sifted that Alexander Frolov Sr sold his investments in Target Global “many months prior to any sanctions” — as did, a spokesperson said, Alexander Abramov, the chairman of Russian steel producer Evraz. 

Both Frolov and Abramov were sanctioned by the UK government in November 2022. Target had not previously confirmed that Abramov had invested in the fund. 

Many VCs and startups have sought to examine their relationship with Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent sanctions put on Russian individuals and entities. VCs with known links to Russia include DST Global, Redline Capital and RTP Global.  

Clarity over investor identities and LPs is important for startups, especially in regulated sectors like financial services. 

This article was updated on October 13 2023 to clarify that DST's links with Russia are historical. This article was updated again on October 26th to clarify RTP's links to Russia

This article was updated on July 22 2024 to clarify that the case is no longer ongoing.

[sienagoster]

Lawsuit claims VC firm Target Global ‘concealed’ company’s links to Russia

The firm also confirmed to Sifted that sanctioned oligarch Alexander Abramov was previously an LP

Update on December 7 2023: On the 29 November, the Commercial Court said it would not proceed with the case as it had not been properly served, and that the claimant did not have an arguable case against Target Global or Jekaterina Dorofejeva.

A lawsuit brought against VC firm Target Global claims it concealed the Russian citizenship of the directors of an associated company as western sanctions against Kremlin-linked individuals began to bite. 

The case comes after the VC industry was scrutinised in the wake of UK sanctions against some Russian individuals, and as more startups are beginning to ask questions about their investors amid heightened geopolitical tensions. 

Target Global told Sifted that it had implemented controls to ensure compliance with sanctions and that none of its directors were Russian citizens. It also stressed to Sifted that none of its employees had ever met the lawsuit’s claimant, Iryna Gordiy, and that it was never party to an agreement with her. 

Target Global was founded in 2015 and has backed companies including Revolut, Auto1 and Delivery Hero. It’s one of the biggest pan-European funds and its website lists over 100 portfolio companies. Its last fund was announced in 2020 and brought assets under management to over €1bn. 

The firm was started by the son of a now-sanctioned Russian oligarch, Alexander Frolov Sr. For the first time, Target Global confirmed to Sifted that another sanctioned oligarch, Alexander Abramov, was also historically an LP, but is no longer one. 

The lawsuit

In November 2022, a company called Finadvant, a cross-border payments company based in London, was acquired by a Dutch cross-border payments company called Finom. Target Global had invested in both companies. 

The lawsuit was filed to the Commercial Court in London in July by Gordiy — who claims she had a sales purchase agreement with Finadvant. Gordiy is a Ukrainian entrepreneur and founder of Remeeta, also a cross-border payments company. 

The legal case claims that the founder of Finadvant, Jekaterina Dorofejeva, delayed reporting the change in ownership once the company was acquired and thereby “committed fraud by providing inaccurate information” to the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

It alleges that Finadvant’s founder told the FCA that she and Target Global were still minority shareholders in the company when, it is alleged, the company was allegedly owned in its entirety by PNL Fintech B.V. — the trading name for Finom.

A lawyer for the founder of Finadvant, Dorofejeva, said she had not committed any fraud, made any misrepresentation or participated in any wrongdoing. The lawyer also said the FCA had never indicated that it had received inaccurate information. 

Why is PNL Fintech/Finom significant?

The lawsuit alleges that PNL Fintech/Finom’s directors are Russian citizens and that it is primarily owned by Target Global. 

It claims that the delay in declaring PNL Fintech/Finom as the ultimate beneficial owner meant Target Global and Dorofejeva could bypass the enhanced checks required for Russian citizens.

Target Global, in an email to Sifted, said it is not, and has never been, the primary owner of PNL Fintech/Finom. It said it is a minority investor and is not in a position to control information the company passed to the FCA. 

Mikhail Lobanov, a cofounder of Target Global, is listed as a supervisory director of PNL Fintech/Finom in financial filings. Target Global confirmed he is a non-executive director of PNL. An SEC filing from March 2022 describes Lobanov as a Russian citizen. Target Global told Sifted last week that he is a citizen of Kyrgyzstan.

The lawsuit alleges that the delay could have been for legitimate reasons, or that “there may be other factors at play that are related to money laundering”.

Target Global said it was not in a position to answer the claims due to a lack of information, that it was never party to an agreement with the claimant and that none of its employees had ever met her.

Dorofejeva’s lawyer told Sifted that she had not committed any fraud, made any representation or participated in any wrongdoing, alleged or otherwise. He said that there were no money laundering issues at play and that the claims did not specify the allegations. 

Who owns Target Global?

Target Global was cofounded in 2015 by Yaron Valler, Shmuel Chafets, Mike Lobanov and Alexander Frolov, the son of Russian oligarch Alexander Frolov Sr. 

Frolov stood down from Target Global in November 2022, after his father was sanctioned by the UK government. Frolov Jr was never himself on a sanctions list but sold all his shares in Target Global to other shareholders, the firm told Sifted last week.

Target also told Sifted that Alexander Frolov Sr sold his investments in Target Global “many months prior to any sanctions” — as did, a spokesperson said, Alexander Abramov, the chairman of Russian steel producer Evraz. 

Both Frolov and Abramov were sanctioned by the UK government in November 2022. Target had not previously confirmed that Abramov had invested in the fund. 

Many VCs and startups have sought to examine their relationship with Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent sanctions put on Russian individuals and entities. VCs with known links to Russia include DST Global, Redline Capital and RTP Global.  

DST's founder renounced his Russian citizenship in 2022 and its funds have not received any investment from Russian LPs since 2011. RTP told Sifted that the majority of its capital derives from its founder, Leonid Boguslavsky, who was born in Russia but no longer lives in the country. Asked if RTP has any other Russian individuals as LPs, it said it could not disclose details regarding its LPs but said it complies with all restrictions. It does not invest in Russian companies.

Clarity over investor identities and LPs is important for startups, especially in regulated sectors like financial services. 

This article was updated on October 13 2023 to clarify that DST's links with Russia are historical. This article was updated again on October 26th to clarify RTP's links to Russia

This article was updated on July 22 2024 to clarify that the case is no longer ongoing.