Security measures being strengthened in schools in Kryvyi Rih — Suspilne Dnipro
Position: Head of the Kryvyi Rih City Department of the Police Security Directorate.
Area of Corrupt Activity: Law enforcement.
Region of Corrupt Activity: Dnipropetrovsk Region.
Legal Qualification: The actions are classified under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Status: At liberty; released from the pre-trial detention center.
Case Details: In August 2026, the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), in cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, detained the head of one of the Police Security units in Dnipropetrovsk Region, who is suspected of organizing systematic extortion from more than 100 subordinates. According to investigators, police officers handed over more than UAH 300,000 to their superiors every month.
According to media sources in law enforcement agencies, the detainee is Dmytro Kunert, Head of the Kryvyi Rih City Department of the Police Security Directorate.
The SBI says the scheme had been operating for about a year. More than 100 police officers were required to hand over between UAH 3,000 and UAH 8,000 every month from their salaries and bonuses to their superiors.
Those who refused to pay could have their monthly bonuses reduced or be denied their annual financial assistance payment. The SBI stated that it had documented dozens of instances in which money was handed over.
The Bureau also released video footage of some of these incidents. In one clip, a police officer returns from an ATM and hands money to the acting company commander.
In another recording, a subordinate tells his superior that he received approximately UAH 5,000 more than usual that month. The superior explains that he had received a “one-off financial assistance payment” and that the amount paid should have been approximately UAH 6,000 higher.
On August 8, the head of the unit was detained while attempting to cross Ukraine’s state border. He was notified of suspicion of receiving an unlawful benefit combined with extortion.
The court ordered his detention, with the option of posting bail in the amount of UAH 1,164,000. According to media sources, the bail set by the court has already been paid.
It is reported that in June, suspicion notices in this case had already been served on the deputy head of the unit, the company commander, and the deputy company commander. All four individuals are charged with receiving an unlawful benefit by an official, combined with extortion (Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Individuals Potentially Involved in Corruption Schemes: In addition to Kunert, the scheme also involved the deputy head of the unit, the company commander, and the deputy company commander.
Assets: In his 2025 asset declaration, Kunert stated that he owns a residential house and a land plot in Kropyvnytskyi, and also co-owns an apartment with relatives.
The law enforcement officer’s income for that year amounted to UAH 609,977.
He declared USD 400,000 in cash.
Authorities Responsible for Responding: SBI employees should have paid attention to criminal activity within the Police Security Directorate at an earlier stage.
Scandals: Before the corruption scheme came to light, he had not been identified as being involved in any other scandals.
Sources:
https://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2026/08/12/8048427/
https://novynarnia.com/2026/08/12/zbyrav-z-pidlehlykh-300-tys-shchomisiatsia-i-namahavsia-vtekty-z/
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/2714573b-303c-4d1d-b48e-a4ea69756f4b