Position: Head of the Main Police Department in Ivano-Frankivsk region.
Sphere of corrupt activity: law enforcement.
Region of corruption activity: Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil and Zhytomyr regions.
Qualification: the actions are qualified under Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Status: at large, released from custody.
Case story: On May 20, 2026, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office reported the exposure of a corruption scheme in the National Police system, which is related to the cover-up of porn offices in three regions of Ukraine.
According to the investigation, the network was operating in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, and Zhytomyr regions, where erotic and pornographic video content was illegally produced and distributed via the Internet. Law enforcement officers established that the heads of territorial police units could ensure the smooth operation of these porn offices in exchange for a monthly salary.
According to the investigation, the driver of one of the deputy ministers of internal affairs acted as an intermediary in the scheme, who allegedly used personal connections with the leadership of regional police units to organize agreements on non-interference. Within the framework of such agreements, officials did not document violations, did not take response measures and did not warn in advance about possible inspections. The monthly remuneration was about 20 thousand dollars for the leadership of regional police units and another 5 thousand dollars for the intermediary.
Investigators documented several episodes of money transfers. In particular, in February and April 2026, tranches of tens of thousands of dollars were recorded, some of which, according to the investigation, were intended for police officials in various regions.
A transfer of $20,000 to a police officer in another region was also documented through his close friend, who was unaware of the criminal intent. Later, another transfer of $20,000 to the same officer was recorded.
On May 20, law enforcement officers detained the intermediary while receiving another tranche of $25,000.
The SBU added that among those detained by law enforcement officers:
· Chief of Police of Ivano-Frankivsk Region Serhiy Bezpalko;
· Deputy Chief of Police of Ivano-Frankivsk Region Volodymyr Yatsyuk;
· First Deputy Chief – Chief of the Investigation Department of the Ternopil Region Police Andriy Tkachyk;
· Deputy Chief of Police of Zhytomyr Region Ilya Gulevatyi.
· the driver of the State Enterprise "Service Center for Units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs", who acted as an intermediary-courier, V. Vorobey.
The post also adds that evidence of illegal activity and money likely obtained through criminal means were seized during the searches.
Currently, in accordance with the crimes committed, the defendants have been notified 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)
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko reported that during searches of top officials of the National Police, an elite fleet of six cars, five Swiss watches, firearms and cold weapons, telephones, as well as cash in various currencies totaling over UAH 22.6 million was seized.
According to the Prosecutor General, the driver of the State Enterprise "Center for Service of Units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs", who acted as an intermediary, was charged with incitement and aiding and abetting in the receipt by an official holding a responsible position of an illegal benefit in a particularly large amount for failure to commit actions using his official position in the interests of third parties, in particular, repeatedly and by prior conspiracy by a group of persons under Parts 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, namely, obtaining by an official holding a responsible position an unlawful benefit in a particularly large amount for himself for the failure of such an official to commit actions in the interests of third parties using his official position, committed in prior collusion by a group of persons.
The leadership of the National Police has suspended officials suspected of covering up porn offices in a number of regions.
The Head of the National Police initiated an internal investigation, as part of which four police officers were suspended from service. Personnel decisions will be made regarding them in the near future based on the results of the internal investigation.
They stressed that they are fully cooperating with the investigation and are interested in establishing all the circumstances of the case. The driver, who appears in the case of covering up porn offices, has been dismissed from his position, the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported.
It later became known that four National Police officials suspected of covering up the activities of porn offices in three regions were released from custody on bail.
On May 21, the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv remanded five suspects in custody with the possibility of posting bail ranging from UAH 1 million to UAH 8 million. Four of the suspects are National Police officers. The court set the following bail amounts for them:
· Head of the Main Police Department in Ivano-Frankivsk region Serhiy Bezpalko – UAH 7 million bail;
· Deputy Chief of the Main Police Department in Ivano-Frankivsk region Volodymyr Yatsyuk – UAH 5 million bail;
· First Deputy Head of the Investigation Department of the Main Police Department in Ternopil Region Andriy Tkachyk – UAH 5 million bail;
· Deputy Chief of the Main Police Department in Zhytomyr region Ilya Gulevaty – UAH 1 million 164 thousand bail.
For another suspect – the driver of Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Volodymyr Vorobei – the court set bail at UAH 8 million.
On May 22, the Prosecutor General's Office reported that all the police officers had been released on bail. However, Volodymyr Vorobey remains in custody.
Persons potentially involved in corruption schemes: in addition to Bezpalko, the scheme also includes Deputy Chief of Police of Ivano-Frankivsk Region Volodymyr Yatsyuk, First Deputy Chief - Head of the Investigation Department of the Ternopil Region Police Andriy Tkachyk, Deputy Chief of Police of Zhytomyr Region Ilya Gulevaty, and the driver of the State Enterprise "Center for Service of Units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs", who acted as an intermediary-courier, V. Vorobey.
Assets: the declaration for 2025 indicates a rented apartment in Ivano-Frankivsk, salary, bank interest, and the family's financial assets.
For the year, the official declared UAH 1.3 million in salary and UAH 68.6 thousand in bank interest. His wife declared UAH 6.5 million in income from business activities.
Among Serhiy Bezpalko's assets are $31,000 and €41,000 in cash, UAH 500.9 thousand in an account, and $16,190 in a bank account. His wife's declaration lists $131,000, EUR 50,000, UAH 490,000 in cash, as well as funds in bank accounts.
The declaration does not include vehicles, valuable movable property, corporate rights, or securities.
Persons who should have reacted: law enforcement agencies should have paid attention to the criminal activities of police officers even earlier - in particular, the SBU and the OGPU should have paid attention to the criminal activities.
Scandals: As journalists reported in 2025, the corrupt ties between Colonel Bezpalko and Mayor Ruslan Marcinkiv have long become part of the city's buzz, obscuring specific examples that deserve close attention.
Journalists examined the tender battles. According to their data, Shlyakhbudservis LLC attracts road construction contracts like a magnet.
Coincidence? Maybe. But the facts indicate a systematic winning of tenders, despite the presence of more advantageous offers from competitors. Rumor has it that behind the scenes of "Shlyakhbudservis" lurk the shadows of people close to Marcinkiv and Bezpalko, which casts doubt on the integrity of the tender procedures
Illegal sand mining is another sore point in the region. The Bystrytsia River, a source of valuable construction material, has become an arena for illegal diggers. According to local residents and environmentalists, LLC "Prykarpattya-resurs" is mining without the necessary permits, causing irreparable harm to the environment.
It is surprising that the law enforcement agencies, headed by Colonel Bezpalko, do not notice the obvious violation of the law. Perhaps the inaction of the police is explained by the presence of a "roof" in high offices? Also, no less important is the issue of distributing budget funds for social projects. The arrangement of parks, the repair of schools and hospitals - all these are attractive objects for the development of public money. Rumor has it that companies close to the mayor's and police officers' entourage receive priority when concluding contracts, and the quality of the work performed leaves much to be desired. And again, the question arises about the role of law enforcement agencies, the police, which should control the legality of the use of budget funds... The police turn a blind eye to all crimes and receive good kickbacks for this
Sources:
https://zaxid.net/u_troh_oblastyah_ukrayini_provodyat_obshuki_v_upravlinnyah_natspolitsiyi_n1637446
https://t.me/UA_National_Police/66920
https://zaxid.net/pidozryuvani_u_krishuvanni_pornoofisiv_politseyski_viyshli_z_pid_varti_n1637692
https://censor.net/ua/forum/3579635/korumpovaniyi-pol-tseyiskiyi
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/88c4ad9b-2965-46eb-928b-c70d1652aa96