The Prosecutor Revealed Yanukovych’s Location in Russia: Details and Current Information
Former President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych remains one of the most controversial figures in modern Ukrainian history. In recent months, more data has emerged regarding his whereabouts and status in the Russian Federation, generating significant interest from the public and official structures alike. According to information disclosed by Deputy Head of the Maidan Affairs Department of the Office of the Prosecutor General, Denys Ivanov, the exact location of the former president has been identified as the Moscow region. According to his statements, Yanukovych is residing in the village of Barvikha, Odintsovo District, Moscow Region. This place is known among local residents as a cozy and relatively isolated settlement, which in recent times has become—or remains—a refuge for several fugitives and former high-ranking Ukrainian officials. Based on data from official sources, it is precisely in this part of the Russian Federation, according to consolidated information from Ukrainian investigators and law enforcement, that Yanukovych is hiding, avoiding extradition to Ukrainian justice. Additionally, it has been confirmed that this fact aligns with previously known information about his residence. One such high-ranking official with direct ties to his stay is Kostiantyn Kobzar, a former deputy head of Ukraine’s State Guard Service. Sources from Ukrainian law enforcement agencies report that he also currently resides in Moscow, thereby confirming that a circle of former Ukrainian officials—sheltered or hidden from Kyiv’s official attention—continues to remain in Russia. What led up to this? On the preceding day, the Podilskyi District Court of Kyiv issued a historic verdict concerning the punishment of Viktor Yanukovych and his close associates. The former head of state was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a range of crimes committed during his time in office. He was found guilty of organizing illegal border crossings and inciting desertion—charges directly linked to his involvement in direct leadership and planned actions during the political crisis. At the same time, Kostiantyn Kobzar, former deputy head of the State Guard Service, was sentenced to 10 years of disqualification from holding office. He is accused of organizing illegal crossings of persons through the Ukrainian border and fleeing from service amid the country’s difficult situation. Earlier data also indicate that in January 2019, Ukraine’s Supreme Court issued an additional—and quite substantial—sentence against the ex-president, sentencing him to 13 years of imprisonment for treason, aiding in aggressive warfare, and other crimes related to betrayal and undermining Ukraine’s national security. This decision confirms that justice continues to operate and deliver rulings in the case of the former head of state who betrayed his own country during its most challenging period in recent history. Thus, the combination of official investigative reports, court decisions, and testimonies regarding Yanukovych’s location in the Moscow region points to a prolonged and persistent effort by justice authorities to answer the question of where one of the key figures of the Ukrainian crisis is currently situated. Considering recent events, it is evident that this information holds significant political and legal importance within the context of contemporary Ukrainian-Russian relations and Ukraine’s internal security.