Ukrainian fireproof materials manufacturer Kovlar Group LLC (Kyiv) considers the information attack on the company to be an element of unfair competition.
“Against the backdrop of high-profile corruption scandals related to procurement for Ukraine’s energy sector and Kovlar Group LLC’s offer of Ukrainian-made fire-retardant materials at prices significantly lower than those of the winners of state tenders, we consider such actions to be an element of discrediting the Ukrainian manufacturer and unfair competition,” the company said in a statement posted on its website.
The company received a journalist’s request (dated February 18, 2026), the content of which indicates an attempt to repeat the information discrediting campaign, as in the summer of 2025.
In August 2024, a large-scale information attack was carried out against Kovlar Group, accompanied by commissioned publications of similar materials in a number of media outlets. Their goal was to discredit the company during its active participation in state tenders for the protection of energy infrastructure facilities.
At that time, the company chose the legal route of defense: it appealed to the court, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine, the National Police, the Ministry of Justice, and financial monitoring authorities. As a result of the inspections, official confirmation was received: the company and its founders operate in accordance with Ukrainian law, are not subject to sanctions, and have no restrictions on their economic activities.
Currently, Kovlar Group LLC continues to operate as usual, fulfills its contractual obligations, and develops production, emphasizing that all products under the Ammokote trademark are manufactured in accordance with current regulatory documents, and that the technical and licensing documentation is valid and complies with regulatory requirements.
“The company operates openly, professionally, and within the framework of current legislation. Participation in government tenders is carried out on a competitive basis. The company is a conscientious taxpayer and has a high level of tax discipline. The company has already proven the groundlessness of previous accusations in the legal field, so we are confident that this time the truth will be on our side,” the statement said.
Kovlar Group LLC was founded in 2015. It is the largest manufacturer of passive fire protection products in Ukraine.
According to OpenDataBot, the company’s authorized capital is UAH 1.2 million. The ultimate beneficiaries are Konstantin Kalafat (40% of shares), Andriy Ozeychuk (35%), and Lyubov Vakhitova (25%).
discrediting, fire protection material, information attack, Kovlar Group, OZEYCHUK, Калафат
The Ukrainian passive fire protection market in 2025, according to preliminary estimates, is worth $8-12 million, with the share of imported materials falling from 80% in 2016 to 17% in 2025, according to the Experts Club analytical centre.
‘Local production reduces costs compared to imported counterparts, which is especially important for large-scale restoration projects,’ said Konstantin Kalafat, co-owner and director of Kovlar Group, quoted in the article.
According to an analytical study by the Ukrainian manufacturer of passive fire protection products, Kovlar Group, based on the interim results of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, provided that the hostilities end, the market could grow to $25 million by 2026. It is expected that the demand structure will be dominated by specialised fire-retardant paints (70-80%), fire-retardant plasters and slabs – 5-10%; passage sealing and communication protection systems – 5-10%; ventilation, smoke ducts and wood protection products – about 5%. An additional driver may be the growing demand for epoxy and polyurethane fire protection systems for oil and gas infrastructure, energy and strategic facilities – a segment that was previously limited by the high cost of imported analogues.
Experts Club notes that against the backdrop of war and logistical constraints, import substitution continues, and in 2025, Ukrainian manufacturers and international brands were simultaneously present on the market through suppliers and certified systems, in particular Ammokote, Hensotherm, Defens, Promapaint, and Steelguard. The leader of the segment in public estimates is Kovlar Group, which claims a share of about 65% of the Ukrainian fire protection materials market and a portfolio of more than 25 items of fire protection products and related materials; other notable Ukrainian manufacturers include Kapitel Dnipro and NVP Spetsmaterialy.
EXPERTS CLUB, fire protection material, Kovlar Group, Калафат
