Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) have officially issued a notice of suspicion in absentia to Vasyl Astion, a former member of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council. Law enforcement officials suspect Astion of participating in a criminal organization, orchestrating the hostile takeover of assets worth 248 million UAH (approximately $6 million USD), and laundering illicit proceeds to fund bail in a separate high-profile anti-corruption case known as «Midas.»
Because the suspect is currently residing outside Ukraine, law enforcement authorities served the notice of suspicion remotely in accordance with Ukrainian criminal procedure.
According to investigators, sitting Member of Parliament Vadym Stolar and former MP Maksym Mykytas recruited Astion into their criminal network to exploit his informal connections and leverage within the judiciary. Astion’s primary responsibility was ensuring that judges in commercial courts rendered favorable rulings for companies and individuals affiliated with the syndicate.
This corruption scheme directly enabled the illegal takeover of two major enterprises. Through manipulated court decisions and forced asset transfers, the legitimate owners lost control of business operations and real assets valued at over 248 million UAH.
Beyond court manipulation, investigators allege that Astion played a pivotal role in laundering the proceeds generated by the seized businesses. Illicit funds were routed through complex financial transactions to obscure their origin and integrate them into the legitimate financial system.
Portions of these laundered funds were subsequently used to post bail for a key suspect in another major anti-corruption investigation codenamed «Midas.» This crossover highlights systemic financial coordination and mutual backing among high-level figures within the network.
Astion’s actions have been formally classified under several severe articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
Part 2, Article 255 — Participation in a criminal organization;
Part 4, Article 28; Parts 2 and 3, Article 206-2 — Illegal seizure of enterprise property (corporate raiding) committed by an organized group;
Part 4, Article 28; Part 3, Article 209 — Money laundering involving proceeds of crime on a large scale.
Because Astion has fled the country, NABU and SAPO are preparing documentation to place him on international wanted lists through Interpol to secure his arrest and extradition to Ukraine.