The main directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea has added to the materials of a criminal proceeding the information on the possible work of German companies DHL Express, Adidas and Puma on the annexed peninsula, Radio Liberty's Crimea.Realities project has reported, with reference to the SBU's reply to an information request.

"The information of the Ministry for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine regarding the possible implementation of economic activities on sales to the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea by German companies DHL Express, Adidas, and Puma has been added to the materials of a criminal proceeding, the pre-trial investigation of which is carried out by the investigation department of the Security Service of Ukraine's main directorate in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Investigative measures are now continuing," reads the reply.

The SBU added that details of the pre-trial investigation were not disclosed due to Article 222 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine (inadmissibility of disclosure of information of pre-trial investigation).

In December 2017, the SBU, in response to an information request from Crimea.Realities, reported that it would check information about the possible work of German companies DHL Express, Adidas and Puma in Russian-annexed Crimea.

In December 2017, the Ministry for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine reported facts of the work of German companies in Crimea, in particular, postal operator DHL Express, as well as sports concerns Adidas and Puma. For example, the addresses of official stores in Crimea are available on the Adidas website. At the same time, there is no mention of the peninsula's belonging to a specific country.

On January 3, 2018, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said that Ukraine would find leverage to influence international companies which behave as if Crimea is part of Russia.

After that, German concerns Volkswagen and Adidas rejected Klimkin's claims on the work of their retailers in the occupied peninsula.