Position: Border Guard Inspector, Krakivets Department.
Sphere of corruption activity: border.
Region of corruption activity: Lviv region.
Qualification: actions are qualified under Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Status: at large.
Case story: in early May 2026, the Halytskyi District Court of Lviv sentenced Volodymyr Melnyk, an inspector of the border service of the Krakivets department, who received $2,000 in bribes for influencing officials of the recruitment center to place a client in service in the border detachment.
According to the case materials, on January 5, 2023, border guard inspector Volodymyr Melnyk, while in the center of Lviv, received two parts ($500 and $1,500) of illegal gain for influencing officials of the recruitment center. The matter involved the placement of a candidate for contract service in a border detachment.
The accused refused to testify at the trial and denied his guilt in accepting a bribe to influence a decision.
Despite the denials, the border guard's guilt was proven by the evidence collected in the case, in particular, recordings of conversations that took place between him and the client.
Judge Oleh Yurkiv found Volodymyr Melnyk guilty of abuse of influence (Part 3, Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and sentenced him to four years in prison with confiscation of property.
The court also ruled that the border guard was deprived of the right to hold positions related to the performance of organizational, managerial or administrative and economic functions for a period of two years. The verdict can still be appealed.
Persons potentially involved in corruption schemes: in this scheme, Volodymyr Melnyk acted independently.
Assets: In his 2024 tax return, Melnyk indicated that he did not own any real estate. However, his wife owns a residential building, an apartment, and a parking space (the latter two properties were purchased in 2024).
In addition, Volodymyr Melnyk declared a Bajaj Boxer Bm 125x motorcycle (purchased in 2022) and a Renault Sandero car purchased in 2024 (worth 270,000 hryvnias).
Melnyk's income for the same year was 724,126 UAH, and his wife's was 1,327,100 UAH.
Melnyk declared 200,000 UAH in cash.
Persons who should have reacted: law enforcement agencies responded promptly to Melnyk's criminal activities, charging him with suspicion.
Scandals: Before the corruption scheme, he was not seen as a figure in other scandals.
Sources:
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/25d3f487-c35d-477c-be2f-10b60d47b448