Position: Senior Operations Officer for Particularly Important Cases of the Security Service of Ukraine in Vinnytsia Region.
Sphere of corrupt activity: law enforcement.
Region of corruption activity: Vinnytsia region.
Qualification: actions are qualified under Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Status: at large.
Case story: In March 2025, NABU and SAPO reported suspicions of an employee of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in providing an illegal benefit to a representative of law enforcement agencies. Earlier, this representative and his intermediary were served with suspicion of receiving this benefit.
Under the procedural guidance of the SAPO prosecutor, NABU detectives reported suspicions of an employee of the State Border Guard Service in providing an illegal benefit to a representative of law enforcement agencies. Today, his actions are qualified as a crime under Part 1 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
According to the investigation, an employee of the State Border Guard Service (Olexandr Marushchak) provided an illegal benefit to a law enforcement official (Vyacheslav Katerynych) for failing to take measures to expose his illegal activities. The illegal benefit was provided in the cryptocurrency USDT (an amount equivalent to 355 thousand dollars) to the crypto wallet of an intermediary, whom the law enforcement officer had engaged. After the full amount of funds was received in the intermediary's crypto wallet, they were converted into cash and transferred to the law enforcement officer.
It should be noted that the law enforcement officer and his intermediary were notified of the suspicion in early February 2025. They are charged with committing a crime under Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
As the media noted, the scandal was centered not only on Marushchak's corrupt actions, but also on a "spicy" blackmail story that unfolded between him and SBU officer Vyacheslav Katerynych. According to the investigation, Katerynych, while serving as a senior operations officer in Vinnytsia region, gained access to compromising materials on Marushchak. These materials contained not only evidence of the border guard's corrupt actions, but also details of his personal life, including extramarital affairs.
Instead of handing over this information to law enforcement, Katerynych decided to use it for blackmail. He demanded $350,000 from Marushchak for his silence, as well as monthly payments of $5,000. To implement the scheme, Katerynych hired an intermediary, Serhiy Pankush, who received $10,000 for his services. The money from Marushchak was transferred to a crypto wallet, which made it difficult to track.
This scheme could have gone unnoticed if Marushchak had not filed a complaint with NABU about extortion. As a result of operational actions by NABU, the intermediary Pankush was detained, and he entered into a deal with the investigation, agreeing to cooperate in the cases against Katerynych and Marushchak. By the verdict of the Anti-Corruption Court, Pankush received 8 years in prison with a probationary period of 3 years.
Subsequently, the High Anti-Corruption Court released on bail the head of the Solomonovo Border Service Department of the Chop Border Detachment of the Western Regional Directorate of the State Border Service, Oleksandr Marushchak.
The detective of the National Anti-Corruption Court and the prosecutor of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office requested that Marushchak be held on bail of UAH 60,560 with the assignment of duties. At the same time, the defense requested that the suspect be released on bail of military personnel.
To refuse to grant the motion to apply a preventive measure in the form of bail to the suspect (Marushchak). To apply a preventive measure in the form of personal bail to the suspect
He was also given the following obligations: to appear upon every request; not to leave the Transcarpathian and Donetsk regions without permission; to report any change of residence; to refrain from communicating with the suspect and witnesses; and to hand over his foreign passports for safekeeping.
In addition, the court extended the arrest of the senior operational officer for especially important cases of the Security Service of Ukraine in Vinnytsia region in this case. As an alternative, a bail of UAH 6 million was set for him.
In October 2025, the High Anti-Corruption Court extended the term of office of the Senior Operational Officer for Particularly Important Cases of the Security Service of Ukraine in Vinnytsia Region, Vyacheslav Katerynych, until November 29.
On April 18, the anti-corruption court extended Katerynych's arrest for two months with the alternative of UAH 6 million in bail. On April 29, these funds were deposited and he was released from custody. The accused was imposed the following obligations: not to leave Vinnytsia region without permission; to report a change in his place of residence and place of work; to refrain from communicating with witnesses regarding the circumstances of this criminal proceeding; to hand over his foreign passports and wear an electronic bracelet. The prosecutor of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office requested that the obligations be extended.
To extend the term of the duties assigned to the accused (Katerynych) for two months. To establish the term of the duties assigned to the accused until November 29, 2025 inclusive.
Persons potentially involved in corruption schemes: Head of the Solomonovo Border Guard Department of the Chop Border Guard Detachment of the Western Regional Directorate of the State Border Guard Service Oleksandr Marushchak, as well as the law enforcement intermediary Serhiy Pankush.
Assets: There are no declarations of Katerynych's income in open sources.
Persons who should have reacted : law enforcement agencies responded in a timely manner to the criminal activities of Katerynych and Marushchak, charging both with suspicion.
Scandals: Before the corruption scheme, he was not seen as a figure in other scandals.
Sources: