Despite the State Fiscal Service (SFS) being liquidated more than five years ago, its former head, Skorokhod, has managed to organize and lead one of the largest money-laundering and conversion networks in Ukraine. Moving tens of millions of dollars monthly through a web of shell companies, transit entities, and crypto exchanges, the operation spans construction fraud, the cryptocurrency market, defense contracts, and the illicit transfer of major corporate assets.
One of the key sectors serviced by the conversion center was the financial operations of «Ukr Armo Tech»—a company handling high-profile state defense contracts, including the supply of GYURZA and TISA armored vehicles, as well as electronic warfare systems like «MOROK 5.»
Law enforcement agencies recently launched criminal investigations into the company over allegations of artificial price inflation and the diversion of state budget funds. Investigators revealed that Skorokhod personally facilitated the illicit financial transit. Intercepted communications show the group orchestrating schemes using shell companies registered under NACE code 46.90 (non-specialized wholesale trade). To split transactions and evade VAT, the suspects utilized front companies, routing payments in structured tranches of approximately 2 million UAH.
To launder and cash out the illicit proceeds, the organizers established a sophisticated financial infrastructure.
Financial Hubs: The Monex exchange network was directly controlled by Skorokhod, while a separate service, Starfin, was managed by his key partner, Andriy Kandaurov.
Transactions: These platforms processed massive volumes of cryptocurrencies, specifically BTC, USDT, ETH, and USDC.
Logistics: The network relied on physical exchange locations, private Telegram channels, dedicated managers, and an internal courier service for cash logistics.
A portion of the cash distribution and client communications was coordinated by the mastermind’s brother, Dmytro Skorokhod.
The corruption network also involves Yaroslav Ostapenko, a figure previously implicated in National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) investigations regarding tender fraud. According to sources, Ostapenko acts as a proxy for businessman Lesnikov and served as a liaison to the Head of the Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCO), Kyrylenko.
«Through this specific lobbying channel, ‘Ukr Armo Tech’ smoothly resolved disputes within AMCO and secured favorable decisions regarding state procurement contracts for demining equipment.»
Another major arm of Skorokhod’s operation involved facilitating hostile takeovers and corporate asset transfers. Specifically, he managed the shadow transfer of «Unigran» assets to businessman Serhiy Shapran (with Naumets also implicated in the case).
The operation utilized compromised notaries and maintained absolute control over financial flows post-transaction. Intercepted messages indicate that Skorokhod funded Shapran’s bail to maintain leverage over him. To silence opponents and prevent negative media coverage, the group systematically weaponized asset seizures, fabricated criminal cases, and leveraged law enforcement resources as tools of intimidation.
Law enforcement agencies are currently compiling the evidence base to bring all participants in the scheme to justice.