In Monaco, the son of the former president of the “Motor Sich” corporation — Vyacheslav Boguslaev — was detained, marking a new significant milestone in the investigation of large-scale financial crimes related to the Ukrainian industrial giant
This joint operational effort by employees of the Security Service of Ukraine, representatives of the Office of the Prosecutor General, and diplomatic structures of partner countries culminated in the arrest of Oleksandr Boguslaev in the prestigious resort environment of Monaco. According to official sources, investigators established that this young man, in partnership with his father, was involved in a scheme that led to extensive financial manipulations. It is also emphasized that even before Russia’s war against Ukraine began, Oleksandr Boguslaev actively assisted in seizing a controlling stake in the state enterprise "Motor Sich" with the subsequent resale, remaining under the radar of law enforcement officials. According to the investigation, the actions of the suspect and his father are closely linked to a large-scale money laundering crime. The military activities that led to the seizure of "Motor Sich" assets have long raised concerns within Ukraine’s legal system. Experts assert that, according to investigators, Vyacheslav Boguslaev organized a targeted campaign before Russia’s major military aggression against Ukraine, which included artificially lowering the company’s share value through falsified inventory documents. This strategy enabled him to acquire control over 65% of the company’s securities at a undervalued price. Using this illicit influence over the company’s shares, he transferred a significant portion—via six offshore structures owned by his son—to legitimate entities and legal persons. It is reported that the suspects orchestrated a large-scale scheme to launder the stolen assets, reselling them to foreign companies. Attempts to conceal the traces of criminal activity and use the obtained funds for profit led the perpetrators to purchase high-end real estate in EU countries, confirming the scale of their financial manipulations. As part of an international investigation, a series of searches were conducted at the residence of the detainee in a seaside villa in Monaco, as well as in the apartments of affiliated individuals in Zaporizhzhia. These actions facilitated the gathering of additional evidence and the seizure of documents confirming criminal activities. Oleksandr Boguslaev has been formally charged under Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — legalization (laundering) of property obtained through criminal means, committed by an organized group in very large amounts. It is known that along with him, the former head of "Motor Sich" — Vyacheslav Boguslaev — was also charged. He is currently in custody, and his actions are additionally classified under several articles of Ukrainian criminal law, including Part 2 of Article 191 — appropriation of property through abuse of official position, as well as articles related to the organization of large-scale legalization of illicitly obtained property. Diplomatic and law enforcement circles emphasize that this case is one of the most high-profile and complex investigations of late 2023, demonstrating the targeted efforts of Ukrainian investigators in combating global crimes aimed at diverting Ukrainian assets from legal channels and concealing criminal schemes through international legal cooperation. At the same time, lawyers and experts stress that achieving just punishment through foreign detention is a crucial step in countering corruption crimes and strengthening international judicial cooperation.