Law enforcement authorities in Odesa have dismantled a large-scale corruption scheme involving the illegal importation of commercial goods passed off as humanitarian aid. The perpetrators imported 50 tons of clothing and footwear from Turkey tax-free, reselling the items at the «7th Kilometer» wholesale market. The total value of the illegal imports exceeds 40 million UAH.
According to investigators, the scheme was orchestrated by representatives of the local branch of the Batkivshchyna political party. The suspects have been formally charged and remanded in custody with the option to post bail.
The fraudulent operation ran from October 2025 through April 2026, during which the organizers managed to process 11 separate shipments totaling approximately 50 tons. A Turkish national handled product purchases in Turkey, after which controlled charitable foundations declared the cargo as duty-free humanitarian donations.
A former official from Odesa Customs facilitated smooth clearance through border controls. Once processed, organizers generated fake distribution reports claiming the goods were delivered to displaced persons and low-income families. In reality, the shipments were moved to warehouses at the «7th Kilometer» market for wholesale and retail distribution.
Investigators revealed that three charitable organizations were used in the scheme: «Dolony Pivdnya,» «Volonterski Kryla,» and «Ridnyi Bereh.»
According to case files, these foundations were established with the direct involvement of Serhiy Veselov, a long-time regional official for the Batkivshchyna party and a key associate of Oleh Radkovsky, First Deputy Chairman of the Odesa Regional Council. The foundations were formally headed by Veselov’s trusted associates: Hennadiy Vovchenko, Oleh Doroshenko, and Yevhen Polyanitsyn. Notably, the «Ridnyi Bereh» foundation shares its official legal address with the party’s regional headquarters at 45 Preobrazhenska Street.
During a series of search operations, law enforcement officers seized:
Ledgers containing hidden accounting records;
Mobile phones and communication devices;
Remaining unsold merchandise from warehouses.
The suspects are charged under Part 3, Article 201-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal sale of humanitarian aid for profit on an especially large scale). The organizers remain in custody and face prison time alongside property confiscation if convicted.