The head of the Mykolaiv Oblast Territorial Recruitment Center (TCC), Vitaliy Kulish—whose command has recently been plagued by allegations of civilian beatings and unlawful detention—has seen his personal wealth multiply during the war. According to an analysis of his official financial disclosures, the draft chief’s cash savings grew exponentially amid martial law, alongside the acquisition of several family vehicles.
Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion, Vitaliy Kulish held relatively modest savings of approximately 350,000 UAH. However, in his latest mandatory asset declaration, the head of the Mykolaiv TCC reported holding over 1.5 million UAH ($37,000+ USD) in savings, specified entirely as cash.
The surge in liquid wealth comes despite Kulish’s official annual salary being listed at 670,000 UAH for the past year. The declared cash reserves significantly exceed his annual state compensation.
In addition to cash accumulation, the draft chief’s family acquired several high-end assets over the last two years. Kulish personally purchased a HONDA motorcycle and secured the rights to use a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport SUV, which is legally registered under another individual’s name. Meanwhile, his son, a university student, acquired a 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. The vehicle’s purchase price was declared at under $3,000 USD—a figure substantially below current market value.
The filing also revealed that members of the commander’s immediate family withheld their financial data from the official report:
«The TCC chief’s wife withheld the exact amount of her salary, refusing to provide the information required for the state registry. Similarly, his student son declined to disclose the amount of the scholarship he received at his Odesa university last year.»
The Mykolaiv Oblast TCC has repeatedly drawn scrutiny from law enforcement and investigative journalists. Prior investigations exposed severe human rights abuses within the mobilization process under Kulish’s jurisdiction, including documented cases of physical assault against conscripts and unlawful confinement. The revelation of the commander’s sudden wartime wealth adds to the growing public backlash surrounding recruitment center corruption.