The SSU, with the assistance of the Acting Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko and Kyiv Police, has neutralized an organized criminal group operating under the leadership of the Migration Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine.

The high-ranking officials set up large-scale schemes to ‘protect’ prostitution in Kyiv and other regions.

Monthly proceeds of the organizers of the illegal business amounted to over UAH 50 mln (USD 1.2 mln).

As a result of operational and investigative activities, the SSU detained the deputy chief of the Migration Police Department, a chief of unit in Kyiv Police and twelve other members of the group.

According to the investigation, the officials were covering up the activities of an extensive network of brothels in Kyiv.

Girls aged 18 to 30 in a vulnerable psycho-emotional state were recruited to these ‘institutions’.

The organizers also set up a number of groups in messengers, in which ‘administrators’ searched for women to provide intimate services for money, including ‘escorts’.

The women were offered ‘trips’ to clients in different regions of Ukraine and abroad.

The cost of ‘services’ ranged from USD 500 to 10,000 per night.

Within the criminal proceeding, the SSU conducted over 30 searches at the suspects’ places of stay and in the administrative buildings of the National Police.

Based on the collected evidence, over 20 individuals have been notified of suspicion under the Articles of the CCU:

• 255 (creation, management of a criminal community or criminal organization);
• 302 (creation or maintenance of brothels);
• 303 (pandering or involvement of a person in prostitution).

Court is to decide on measures of restraint.

The investigation is ongoing to bring to justice all those involved in the activities of the criminal group.

The SSU Main Directorate for Countering Systemic Threats to State Administration exposed and detained the offenders under the supervision of Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.