Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) has filed a lawsuit with the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) to declare assets held by Vitalii Riznyk, chief of the 41st State Fire and Rescue Unit in Kharkiv Oblast, as illicitly acquired. Prosecutors are demanding the forfeiture of a premium SUV and cash savings valued at over UAH 3.22 million (~$78,000), as the official’s legal income fails to account for their origin.
The primary asset in the lawsuit is a 2019 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 (Executive Lounge edition), purchased in 2024 with a minimum estimated market value of UAH 3.02 million. Although registered under the name of Riznyk’s mother, evidence gathered by law enforcement indicates that the Emergency Service lieutenant colonel is the actual owner and primary user of the vehicle.
Additionally, prosecutors are targeting UAH 196,000 in cash, recorded as an unexplained increase in the official’s personal savings at the end of 2024.
«An analysis of the official income and expenses of the officer, his wife, and his parents established that they lacked sufficient legal earnings to acquire these assets.»
Financial monitoring revealed a stark discrepancy between the family’s official revenue and their total expenditures, leaving more than UAH 3.2 million unaccounted for. No evidence of loans, inheritances, or other legitimate income sources was provided to justify the spending.
Notably, Riznyk declared his use of the luxury SUV only in his 2025 asset declaration — after law enforcement authorities had already launched an investigation into his wealth and issued formal inquiries.
The case is now set to be heard by the HACC under Ukraine’s civil forfeiture mechanism. This legal framework allows the state to confiscate unexplained assets of public officials without requiring a criminal conviction, provided the official cannot prove their lawful origin in court. If the court rules in favor of SAP, the seized property and funds will be transferred directly to the state budget.