Arrest of the Son of the Former President of “Motor Sich” Vyacheslav Boguslayev: Zelensky Emphasized — They Cannot Hide Abroad
In his evening address on May 2nd, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the recent detention of Oleksandr Boguslayev — the son of the former head of one of the country's largest aerospace enterprises, "Motor Sich." This event is a significant development in the investigation of a large-scale scheme involving the theft of state assets and illegal enrichment carried out by high-ranking officials and businessmen associated with the former president and the industrial giant. Addressing Ukrainians, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized: "Today, I especially want to thank Ukrainian law enforcement agencies — prosecutors and the Security Service of Ukraine — who are persistently working on investigating the case related to the theft of 'Motor Sich' assets and illegal sale of Ukrainian weapons to Russia. I also want to inform you that one of the suspects was detained in Monaco — a country which was used as a staging ground for laundering stolen funds. This fact has strengthened our conviction: criminals trying to hide abroad will not escape responsibility. This should serve as a wake-up call for everyone — everyone who stole from the Ukrainian people will, sooner or later, face deserved punishment. I have therefore tasked the heads of law enforcement agencies to investigate such cases meticulously, to devote maximum effort to finding and returning stolen Ukrainian assets that were transferred abroad. This is a principled and strategic direction of our work." Background: What was known the day before On May 2nd, through joint efforts of investigative special groups involving the Security Service of Ukraine, the Office of the Prosecutor General, and law enforcement agencies from European countries, Oleksandr Boguslayev — the son of the former head of "Motor Sich" who has a substantial criminal history — was detained in the Principality of Monaco. According to law enforcement estimates, from 2016 to 2025, this high-ranking official and his accomplices laundered over $650 million USD through financial operations in France and Monaco. This event is not just a legal victory but also a demonstration that Ukraine is consistently implementing measures against evasion of responsibility and capital flight. Law enforcement officials report that the arrest resulted from coordinated efforts of an international investigative team working closely with international partners. Charges against Boguslayev are quite serious: he is accused of aiding Russia, the aggressor country, thereby effectively supporting military aggression, collaborating activities, involvement in schemes aiding terrorist organizations, and actively opposing the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Additionally, evidence and possible evidence of financial manipulations emerged within the criminal proceeding, providing grounds for a preventive measure of detention. Boguslayev himself denies any involvement in criminal activities and asserts his innocence. With his current detention, the former industrialist and political figure is in isolation: he is now in pre-trial detention, and Ukrainian law enforcement promises to make every effort to build a complete picture of the criminal activities and to bring all involved persons to justice. Analysts note that this case is of strategic importance for the future fight against economic corruption and schemes of misappropriating state resources. In the context of this situation, recent publications highlight Boguslayev’s ties and influence in industrial circles, as well as the role of "Motor Sich" — one of the key elements in Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex, which, according to investigations, operated in favor of Russia, facilitating military aggression against Ukraine. This causes additional outrage among the Ukrainian population and political figures, who see it as a manifestation of widespread corruption and betrayal of national interests. Next Steps and the Importance of the Investigation The arrest of Oleksandr Boguslayev is a crucial first step in a long and complex process of achieving justice. President Zelensky stated in his address: "Criminals abroad will not be able to escape responsibility. Ukraine is working to recover all stolen assets, and everyone involved in crimes will be held accountable, regardless of where they are." This case should serve as an important signal to other high-ranking officials and businessmen that their dishonest activities will not go unpunished. The support of international cooperation is also vital, demonstrating the effectiveness of Ukraine's justice system in combating economic crimes and criminal business schemes. Alongside this, investigations into other cases related to corruption, abuse, and money laundering schemes are ongoing, further strengthening Ukraine’s position on the path toward the rule of law and the fight against high-level corruption. Thus, the detention of Boguslayev’s son is a signal and example to all who are indifferent to honesty and justice: regardless of status or financial means, everyone must be held accountable for their actions. Ukraine is committed to doing everything possible to turn these efforts into results — returning Ukrainian assets and restoring trust in the justice system.