Border for sale: Deputy Head of Kyiv City State Administration “did business” during the war
17 April 12:24
The SBU jointly with the National Police exposed an official of the Kyiv City State Administration suspected of facilitating illegal border crossing by men of military age. According to the investigation, the official, who holds the position of deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration, organized a large-scale scheme to leave Ukraine through the Shlyakh system, an official mechanism for crossing the border by volunteers and drivers who provide humanitarian aid and resources for the frontline, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing SBU information.
According to the investigation, the official cooperated with a private company from Odesa, which is a key instrument in the scheme. Abusing his official position, he gave illegal orders to enter the personal data of men liable for military service into the electronic database “Shlyakh”, where they were listed as volunteer drivers who allegedly transported humanitarian aid – in particular, fuel for the needs of the Armed Forces.
Under the guise of performing critical humanitarian flights, these men left Ukraine for the European Union in trucks of an Odesa-based company. According to the documents, they were supposed to return with the next batches of aid from Ukraine’s foreign partners.
However, the reality, as law enforcement officers found out, was different. the “volunteers” were actually using these transportation trips only as a way to escape abroad, with no intention of returning. In the opposite direction, their places were taken by other employees of the company, who brought commercial goods to Ukraine for sale. Thus, the scheme disguised private commercial activities and at the same time provided safe exit for draft evaders.
The investigation found that in May-June 2022 alone, more than 30 people of military age were smuggled through this scheme, using the fictitious status of volunteers to cross the state border under martial law.
Based on the collected evidence, the Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration was served a notice of suspicion under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- ч. 2 of Art. 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine committed by an official using his/her official position;
- ч. 1 and 3 of Art. 362 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – unauthorized actions with information in electronic systems committed by a person who had the right to access such systems.
The issue of a preventive measure for the official is currently being decided. He faces up to seven years in prison if proven guilty in court.
The proceedings are under the control of the Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office, which is providing procedural guidance in this case. Operational and investigative actions were carried out by officers of the SBU Main Directorate in Kyiv and Kyiv region, as well as investigators of the National Police of the capital.
The investigation is also ongoing to identify all persons involved in the scheme, including representatives of the commercial company and potential intermediaries. It is possible that the scale of the network exceeds the documented facts, and the number of people who took advantage of the scheme is much higher.
Law enforcers emphasize that even in the most acute circumstances, the country must adhere to the principles of justice, and manipulations on the topic of volunteering or helping the army are particularly cynical crimes. That is why any cover of a “humanitarian mission” to avoid responsibilities to the state will be strictly prosecuted.
What Volodymyr Prokopiv himself says about the serving of the suspicion
The official himself wrote on his Facebook page that “another absurd suspicion handed to him is part of a planned effort to clean up local government in the capital and put pressure on the opposition.”
According to him, the charge against him is for allegedly facilitating the illegal crossing of the border by men subject to military service. Prokopiv notes that the case concerns two truck drivers who did not return to Ukraine at some point. He calls the case itself absurd and politically motivated.
Prokopov emphasized that from the first days of the full-scale invasion, he took responsibility for organizing the life support of Kyiv. In April 2022, he said, he received official authority from the leadership of the Kyiv City Military Administration to coordinate humanitarian supplies, from food and medicine to transportation for the army. In particular, he gained access to the electronic system “Shlyakh”, which was used to formalize the transportation of goods and logistics of volunteer missions.
The MP claims that at that time he was not guided by strict procedures, but acted according to the circumstances to help the Armed Forces and civilians as quickly as possible. According to him, he worked 24/7 with volunteers, medical institutions, the military and territorial defense.
“We imported thousands of tons of humanitarian aid, hundreds of vehicles, and dozens of tons of medicines. And now I am being tried for the fact that two drivers did not return back,” Prokopov wrote.
He also directly links the persecution to his political position and affiliation with European Solidarity. In his opinion, the actions of the security forces are part of an attempt to take control of the Kyiv City Council and change the balance of power in the capital. According to the MP, the President’s Office wants to install “its” secretary of the Kyiv City Council, who will oppose the current mayor Vitali Klitschko.
“Someone is fighting for the country, and someone is fighting for power in the country, and they will not hesitate to use any methods,” the official emphasized.
Prokopiv also said that he had already received warnings about the possible opening of several more criminal cases against him. However, he said he would stand by his position and “stand up” despite the pressure.
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