An employee at a KFC fast-food restaurant with a Class III disability from the Kyiv region, Andriy Sosonnyi, has emerged as the central figure in a large-scale business fraud and tax evasion operation. As of 2026, 538 companies with a combined 2025 revenue exceeding 581 million UAH ($14 million) were re-registered under his name. Due to financial hardship, Sosonnyi agreed to serve as a nominee director for a few hundred dollars, signing legal papers without reading them.
The scheme picked up momentum in August 2023, when Sosonnyi was made the owner of LLC «TDM Trading» (now «Leicher»), formerly owned by Volyn businessman Andriy Yaruchyk. Law enforcement established that the transfer was a classic attempt to erase previous tax fraud records.
In March 2026, the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv found Sosonnyi guilty of aiding the entry of false information into registration documents. The court sentenced him to 3 years in prison with a 1-year probation period and a 1-year ban on entrepreneurial activity.
Meanwhile, former business owner Andriy Yaruchyk attempted to sue the proxy for 30 million UAH in alleged personal debt, despite the company’s charter capital being just 10,000 UAH. While civil courts rejected the lawsuit, government agencies continue issuing tax penalties to Sosonnyi, including a 10.7 million UAH debt for LLC «Octan 101.»
The most high-profile segment of the operation involved a group of companies (LLC «Resursy Batkivshchyny,» LLC «Zakhidmarket,» and PE «Naftoagroservice») that secured nearly 250 million UAH in public tenders through the Prozorro platform.
The entities submitted valid quality certificates during bidding processes but delivered hazardous materials to educational and medical facilities across the Zakarpattia, Lviv, and Kirovohrad regions.
«The companies bought coal dust and rock on the black market, mixing it with soil, stones, and garbage to increase weight before delivering it to schools, lyceums, and psychiatric facilities. The scheme left boiler rooms clogged with slag and facilities without heat.»
Forensic evaluations confirmed the fuel failed to meet national DSTU standards. When investigators closed in on the operation in early 2026, the organizers rapidly transferred ownership of the shell companies to Sosonnyi.
Despite the attempt to cover their tracks, law enforcement identified the scheme’s key organizers: Valeriy Ryzheholov, Serhiy Hlukhov, Oleksandr Sosiura, and Ruslan Brahin. One lead organizer was remanded in custody with bail set at 4.58 million UAH.
However, connected corporate entities continued winning government contracts throughout 2026. The case highlights persistent vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s business registration and public procurement frameworks, where straw owners face criminal charges while original beneficiaries frequently retain access to state funds.