The Kyiv Court of Appeal made an unexpected move in the case of former head of the Odessa Regional Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center, Yevhen Borisov, by ruling on a significant increase in the bail amount, which now exceeds 45 million hryvnias
This decision was made on June 19 during a panel of judges’ session, which considered an appeal from the prosecutor demanding an increase in bail in response to new circumstances in the case and taking into account suspicions of several crimes. We remind that this case is under investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), under Articles 114-1 and 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The first articles concern obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a special period, while the second relates to official forgery. Criminal proceedings under these articles have long been initiated against Borisov. In May 2025, the Pechersky District Court, considering the relevant circumstances, kept him in custody until June 24 with an alternative bail of 20 million hryvnias. However, this decision was appealed, and the Kyiv Court of Appeal has now finalised an increase more than twelve times larger. What prompted such a change? In December 2024, Borisov was released on bail of over 39 million hryvnias. However, investigators discovered that after his release from detention, he might have attempted to evade justice, particularly by planning to leave the country. As a result, on December 25, SBI officers detained him in Kyiv at the entrance to the investigative isolator, where he was awaiting a court hearing, and informed him of new suspicions involving criminal violations, including organizing obstruction of the Armed Forces' activities and falsification of official documents. According to the investigation, Borisov allegedly organized a fake injury — an incident unrelated to his official duties — which was deliberately staged as a way to obtain additional social benefits and rewards. Based on false conclusions from official inspections and a decision by the medical-social expert commission, he was unjustifiably awarded over 165,000 hryvnias in additional compensation for the period from April to June 2022. According to reports from "Ukrainian Truth," Borisov’s family purchased real estate and cars worth millions of dollars on the Spanish coast during the war. This raised suspicions of possible abuse of power and highlighted corruption risks associated with the high-ranking official. Although an internal review did not find grounds for his dismissal from his position, the Armed Forces and law enforcement authorities took appropriate measures, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally ordered Borisov’s removal from his position as military commissar. Subsequently, the SBI launched criminal proceedings regarding abuse of power and official misconduct. In the end, the Kyiv Court of Appeal decided to significantly raise the bail for the former military officer — to over 45 million hryvnias. This not only represents a tactical step in the case but also serves as a signal to society about the seriousness of the fight against corruption, especially during wartime when high-ranking officials must be as transparent and accountable as possible for their actions.