Corruption

The most high-profile scandals and criminal cases of 2024

From fraudulent military service to large-scale embezzlement of budget funds and high-profile crimes. the year 2024 was remembered for a number of high-profile corruption scandals, criminal investigations and trials that shook up Ukrainian society. Komersant ukrainskyi has gathered the main events that became high-profile in 2024 and whose investigations we will be following in 2025.

“Mountains of dollars” in Khmelnytsky: the case of Tetiana Krupa

One of the biggest scandals of the year was the exposure of Tetiana Krupa, head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Center for Medical and Social Expertise (MSEK), and her son in the case of illegal enrichment. The footage of the search went viral on social media, showing a man identified as her husband posing on a bed covered with a mountain of dollars.

During the searches of Krupa’s apartment, SBI investigators found money in almost every corner – $6 million in various currencies. Another $100,000 was found in the official’s office, as well as fake medical documents and lists of men with fake diagnoses used to deregister them from the military.

According to the SBI, Krupa and her son organized a scheme to sell medical certificates of “disability” to conscripts. This allowed the men to avoid mobilization during the war. In total, $5.244 million, €300 thousand, ₴5 million, as well as jewelry and luxury jewelry were found at the family’s home.

During the searches, the official tried to get rid of the evidence by throwing a bag with $500,000 out the window.

Further actions:

Krupa was arrested for 60 days with the possibility of bail in the amount of ₴500 million. The documents seized during the searches contain lists of hundreds of tax evaders. The SBI is continuing to investigate the involvement of other individuals in this corruption scheme.

Also, the head of the Mykolaiv MSEC Center was found to have $450,000 and her son’s Russian passport during the searches. Investigators also discovered that the official had been falsifying her disability in order to receive benefits. She was charged with illicit enrichment.

Corruption in the military enlistment office

In Kyiv, a criminal group consisting of employees of the Holosiivskyi RTC and the military medical commission was exposed.

The head of the military medical commission was found with $300,000 at his home, and a total of $1.2 million and €45,000 were seized from two RTCC officials. 11 premium cars worth more than $100,000 each were also found.

The officials organized the sale of “certificates” of unfitness for service. According to the investigation, about 40% of men who underwent a medical examination in the area in 2023 received certificates of unfitness based on fake diagnoses.

The defendants were charged with extortion and entering false data into the Unified State Register. All suspects were taken into custody.

Lviv scandal: billions of dollars in losses for the Defense Ministry

on October 21, the case of Lviv businessman Ihor Hrynkevych, his son, and the directors of companies that supplied low-quality clothing to the Armed Forces was brought to court.

What is the essence of the case? According to the investigation, the criminal organization caused the state losses of more than ₴1 billion by supplying low-quality clothing. The participants are charged with large-scale fraud, creation of a criminal organization, and money laundering.

The defendants in the case were taken into custody. In July 2024, one of the suspects was detained while trying to bribe the SBI leadership in the amount of $500 thousand.

Murder of Iryna Farion in Lviv

on July 19, 2024, linguist and former MP Iryna Farion was killed near her home. She suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

Theinvestigation. Vyacheslav Zinchenko became the accused in the case. According to the investigation, the crime was motivated by national intolerance. The prosecutor’s office has completed the pre-trial investigation, and now the suspect faces life imprisonment.

The scandal with the reconstruction of Okhmatdyt

the year 2024 witnessed a high-profile scandal surrounding the reconstruction of the building of the National Children’s Specialized Hospital “Okhmatdyt”. Following a rocket attack that severely damaged one of the hospital’s buildings in July 2024, the Ukrainian government announced the urgent reconstruction of the medical facility. However, the process of selecting a contractor and financing has been heavily criticized by experts, the public and anti-corruption organizations.

The rebuilding of Okhmatdyt was declared a priority for the Ministry of Health. The tender received 10 bids, most of which offered significantly lower prices. Nevertheless, Bud-technology was chosen as the winner, offering to perform the work for UAH 307 million, one of the most expensive bids.

Among the problems of Bud-technology:

1. Lack of equipment: According to journalistic investigations, the company did not have the necessary equipment and resources to carry out reconstruction of this scale.

2. Doubtful experience: “Bud-Technology had not previously participated in projects of this level of complexity, and most of its previous orders were for small-scale construction work.

3. Ties to the authorities: There are suspicions that the firm has informal ties to officials at the Ministry of Health, which may have influenced the outcome of the tender.

The scandal caused a wide public outcry. Families of children who were treated at Okhmatdyt organized a protest calling for the results of the tender to be reconsidered.

NABU opened a criminal investigation on suspicion of corruption during the tender.

Scandal around Mykola Tyshchenko

Mykola Tyshchenko, a former MP from the Servant of the People party, is at the center of a corruption scandal. The NABU and the SAPO accuse him of lobbying business interests, misappropriating public funds, and taking bribes while heading the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport.

In July 2024, Tyshchenko was served with a notice of suspicion on charges of receiving undue advantage and embezzlement. In connection with the case, he was expelled from the party, and President Zelensky declared zero tolerance for corruption.

Tyshchenko denies the charges, calling them a political order. The investigation is ongoing. If proven guilty, Tyshchenko faces up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

It is known that Tyshchenko did not appear at the preparatory hearing on December 23 at the Babushkinsky District Court of Dnipro, citing health problems. The case against Tyshchenko was postponed to January 6, 2025.

the year 2024 showed that corruption and crime remain key challenges for Ukraine’s law enforcement agencies. However, the active work of the State Bureau of Investigation, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Prosecutor’s Office gives hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice.