In Kyiv, the SSU jointly with the National Police has neutralized a criminal organization that terrorized Kyiv residents and seized their businesses. The group consisted of 15 individuals, including criminals from post-Soviet countries.

The gang tried to take over the legal parking business in the capital.

According to the investigation, the criminals looked for ‘attractive’ car parks and forced their owners to give up management of these facilities.

Instead, they ‘brought in’ their managers, who took all the profits, leaving the real owners with nothing.

In case of refusal, the gangsters carried out armed attacks on the entrepreneurs, threatening them with violence.

The offenders received millions in ‘profits’ every month, part of which was used to replenish the group’s ‘coffers’.

As a result of an operation involving the SSU Special Operations Centre ‘A’, six suspects were detained in Kyiv after they received money from a victim.

During the searches, the law enforcement agencies seized:

• firearms and ammunition;
• mobile phones, computers and records with evidence of the crimes;
• seals of fictitious companies used by the perpetrators to ‘certify transactions’ with the affected entrepreneurs;
• over UAH 500,000 in cash, probably proceeds of crime.

The detained individuals have been notified of suspicion under two Articles of the CCU:

• 189.4 (extortion, committed by an organized group under martial law);
• 255.1, 255.2 (creation, management of a criminal community or criminal organisation, participation in it).

The actions of one of the gang members are also qualified under Article 263.1 of the CCU (illegal handling of weapons, ammunition or explosives).

The investigation is underway to bring to justice all members of the crime ring, including its leader. The suspects face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Kyiv and Kyiv region jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of Pechersk District Prosecutor’s Office in Kyiv.