Police officials suspected of protecting porn studios
Law enforcement officers have exposed the illegal activities of officials of regional police departments of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil and Zhytomyr regions. They allegedly received bribes for "protecting" people who distributed "explicit" content on the Internet. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko explained that this was about ensuring the work of so-called porn offices. Five suspects were detained as part of the pre-trial investigation.
According to the investigation, the defendants organized a scheme to receive illegal benefits for "covering" the activities of individuals who created and distributed explicit content on Internet platforms. In exchange for a monetary reward, the officials promised not to take any retaliatory measures or bring the individuals involved to justice.
During the authorized searches, cash, communication equipment, documentation, and other physical evidence were seized that may indicate the involvement of the defendants in illegal activities.
As part of the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement officers detained:
· Head of the Main Police Department in Ivano-Frankivsk region;
· Deputy Chief of the Main Police Department in Ivano-Frankivsk region;
· First Deputy Chief of the Main Police Department in Ternopil region;
· Deputy Chief of the Main Police Department in Zhytomyr region;
· the driver of the auto company of the State Enterprise "Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Units", who, according to the investigation, acted as an intermediary.
All detainees were informed of suspicion under Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit by an official).
The pre-trial investigation into this case is ongoing. Law enforcement officers are identifying all those involved in the operation of the illegal scheme.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said that the detained heads of the territorial police units of these three regions could ensure the smooth operation of the network of "porn offices." He explained that these were premises where erotic and pornographic video productions were illegally created, produced, and distributed via the Internet.
According to our information, the intermediary in the scheme was the driver of one of the Deputy Ministers of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. Using connections among the leadership of the National Police, he agreed with officials not to interfere in the work of such "porn offices". In exchange for a monthly illegal benefit, police chiefs were supposed to not take any response measures, not to document offenses, not to stop illegal activities, and to warn in advance about possible inspections
According to him, the amount of such a “subscription” from the dealers was 20 thousand US dollars per month for the leadership of the regional police unit. Another 5 thousand was received by the intermediary. To hide the scheme, according to Kravchenko, its participants used conventional symbols, communicated via messengers, and discussed the details of the agreements privately.
The investigation documented several episodes of money transfers. In February 2026, the intermediary received 45 thousand US dollars. According to the investigation, part of these funds was intended for the police leadership of one of the regions, and part for the intermediary himself. In April 2026, he received another 25 thousand US dollars: 20 thousand US dollars were to be transferred to one of the deputy heads of the regional police department, 5 thousand US dollars remained for the intermediary
In addition, he said that a transfer of $20,000 to a police officer in another region was documented through a person "close" to him who was unaware of the scheme. Later, law enforcement officers recorded another tranche of the same amount to the same officer.
Today, the intermediary was detained after receiving another tranche of $25,000. In this episode, $20,000 was also intended for one of the regional police chiefs, and $5,000 for him.
Subsequently, the head of the Prosecutor General's Office clarified that during the investigative actions, an elite fleet of six cars, five Swiss watches, firearms and cold weapons, mobile phones, as well as cash in various currencies totaling over 22.6 million hryvnias were seized from the suspected leaders of the National Police.
Kravchenko also informed that the driver of the auto company of the State Enterprise "Center for Service of Units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs" was notified of suspicion under Part 4, 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The actions of the head of the Main Police Department in Ivano-Frankivsk region, his deputy, as well as the first deputy head of the Main Police Department in Ternopil region and the deputy head of the Main Police Department in Zhytomyr region, were qualified under Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
We also previously wrote that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office reported suspicions to six more members of an organized group that was exposed for legalizing 460 million hryvnias in luxury property .
Previously, law enforcement officials reported that they had "exposed an organized group involved in the legalization of UAH 460 million in luxury construction near Kyiv . "
