Journalists and law enforcement officials report a new high-profile scandal unfolding around a senior official from Dnipro, who previously held leadership positions in the police of Dnipropetrovsk and Kirovohrad regions
According to information confirmed by the State Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Prosecutor General, the case involves lawyer Sergey Bukhinnik, who, while serving in government structures, accumulated assets worth over 33 million hryvnias and acquired at least 18 real estate objects. This reveals a large-scale scheme of illegal enrichment and corruption manipulations, potentially carried out using forged documents and fictitious transactions. Not long ago, Bukhinnik was in the forefront of law enforcement agencies, but today his name appears in a criminal case initiated under several articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Investigators have established that the man used his position to legitimize illicitly obtained income and simultaneously registered property and assets in the names of close relatives—his wife, mother, mother-in-law, and other family members. According to the investigation, between 2019 and 2023, Bukhinnik purchased 16 apartments in the center of Lviv—one of the most attractive and expensive real estate markets in western Ukraine. Additionally, he acquired two more apartments and two parking spaces in a new building in Dnipro, and became the owner of two prestigious passenger cars. To conceal the true source of his assets, he employed a sophisticated scheme involving fictitious loan agreements, involving close relatives who purportedly took large loans. However, the borrowers were controlled individuals unable to officially confirm sufficient income—this was all premeditated to formally register the assets and simulate their lawful legalization. Estimations by investigators suggest that through this scheme, the man and his relatives are suspected of committing crimes related to illegal enrichment and document forgery. Searches are currently underway at the residences of the suspects to seize documents and assets. So far, investigators have announced suspicions against two family members for aiding in money laundering and document forgery, as well as three individuals who acted as creditors. Legal authorities emphasize that a decision regarding preventive measures—such as asset seizure and preventing any possibility of flight or destruction of evidence—is currently being considered. Official information remains limited, as the investigation is keeping certain details confidential to prevent suspects from evading responsibility. At the same time, law enforcement officials stress that measures to hold the high-ranking official and his relatives accountable are only the beginning of a large-scale anti-corruption campaign aimed at cleansing the system and restoring citizen trust in law and order. Photographs from the moment of suspicion notification and searches have already appeared in the media, confirming active investigator operations in real time. Only time will tell whether law enforcement can establish the guilt of the suspects and recover damages for the state, as the case attracts significant public and official interest. The main goal is to uncover all circumstances and punish those responsible for extensive corruption schemes that undermine trust in law enforcement and state institutions overall.