SBU blocks the activity of an interregional conversion center in Kyiv, which provided "services" for illegal VAT refund and tax minimization.

The pre-trial investigation established that the organizers used more than twenty bogus firms with a monthly multi-million turnover. Through the factitious trade operations they provided illegal minimization of tax payments for real economy enterprises. Among the main "clients" of the center were agricultural enterprises, supermarket chains and leasing enterprises.

According to the experts, in 2020, the illegal activities of the conversion center caused more than UAH 200,000,000 (USD 7,200,000) losses to the state budget per month.

The organizers also provided customers with cash transfer services, making fictitious financial transactions.

The law enforcement officers conducted thirteen simultaneous searches in Kyiv and Kyiv region. More than UAH 1,000,000 (USD 36,200), office equipment, documents, seals of enterprises, primary accounting documentation and draft records of the dealers were seized.

The criminal proceeding was initiated upon misappropriation, embezzlement or conversion of property or taking it by abuse of office in a gross amount (Part 4 of Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).