Kyiv police officer who concealed over 13 million hryvnias in the forest faces suspicion for illegal storage and abuse of power
In the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, a scandalous case has come to light involving one of the city’s law enforcement officers, becoming one of the most high-profile incidents in recent years.
The suspect is Yuriy Rybiansky, a police officer accused of theft and illegal storage of a substantial sum of money.
According to investigations, the officer violated established procedures for handling evidence by leaving at least 13.3 million hryvnias—equivalent to various currencies including USD, euros, and hryvnias—in his official office instead of handing them over to a banking institution.
Shortly thereafter, he disappeared from his workplace along with the money.
Rybiansky was quickly located in Rivne region, where he was hiding in the forest, setting up a temporary shelter.
He acquired a minibus, a tent, a charging station, a large stock of food, and various equipment suitable for long-term outdoor living.
He was detained and transported back to Kyiv, with the recovered funds fully matching the investigators’ estimates—over 13 million hryvnias.
The Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office has filed charges against the police department head for illegal possession of someone else’s property in especially large amounts and abuse of official position, according to Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The court is currently considering a preventive measure in the form of custody.
This case has garnered wide public attention and underscores the need for stricter oversight to maintain public trust in law enforcement agencies.