Position: Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the SSU in Kyiv and Kyiv region.
Sphere of corrupt activity: law enforcement.
Region of corruption activity: Rivne region.
Qualification: actions are qualified under Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Status: at large.
Case story: On March 16, 2026, law enforcement officers uncovered a large-scale scheme to extort money from amber miners in the Rivne region. As part of the operation, two officials of the Security Service of Ukraine and their intermediary were detained.
According to the investigation, SSU officials, through a proxy, demanded $620,000 from the head of a company operating in the amber mining sector. In exchange for this money, they promised to help close the criminal proceedings previously opened against the company.
Employees of the Main Department of Internal Security of the SBU detained the suspects while transferring part of the bribe - over $270,000.
The above-mentioned officials and the intermediary were detained today while receiving $250,000 as part of the ill-gotten gains for falsifying criminal proceedings and $22,100 for facilitating amber mining.
During the searches, mobile phones were seized from the suspects, which, according to the investigation, contain evidence of their illegal activities. Law enforcement officers are currently preparing a report on suspicion of receiving an illegal benefit by an official. If convicted, the suspects face up to ten years in prison with confiscation of property.
The media reported that among those detained were:
· Oleh Tokarchuk – Deputy Head of the Main Directorate of the SSU in Kyiv and Kyiv region.
· Ihor Brika – Deputy Head of the USSU in the Rivne region.
· Andriy Avdievskyi – the intermediary and “cashier” of the scheme.
According to their data, the defendants demanded $620,000 for the closure of criminal proceedings against the Amber Galbin group of companies. In addition, the investigation is establishing the circumstances of another episode - the alleged collection of a daily "tribute" from amber pumps. According to law enforcement officers, they could demand approximately $400 per day from each operating installation for uninterrupted operation.
The next day, it became known that all three men were charged with receiving unlawful benefit in an especially large amount (Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The civil mediator (his name is Andriy Avdievsky) was additionally charged with complicity in receiving unlawful benefit (Part 5 of Article 27 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
According to the investigation, SSU officials organized a mechanism to pressure businesses. They received illegal benefits from enterprises for solving their "problematic issues."
An official of the Main Directorate of the SSU in Kyiv and Kyiv region used criminal proceedings as a source of illicit enrichment.
He engaged a civilian to mediate, who communicated with the business and coordinated the transfer of cash.
It was established that during meetings in the Rivne region, entrepreneurs were offered a sum of 600 thousand US dollars for the so-called "tariff for quiet work." In return, they promised to close the criminal proceedings, change the qualification of the case, and not interfere in business activities in the future, the Prosecutor General notes.
Obtaining the illegal benefit occurred in stages:
– On March 6, the first tranche of $50,000 was transferred in Kyiv as confirmation of the seriousness of the intentions. After that, the businessmen were provided with a “road map” for resolving their problems in criminal proceedings.
– On March 16, the second tranche of 250 thousand USD was transferred to one of the restaurants in the Kyiv region.
Separately, the deputy head of the USSU in the Rivne region was exposed, who, through the same intermediary, received more than 22 thousand USD from an entrepreneur for ensuring unhindered amber mining.
In total, law enforcement officers documented the receipt of over 322 thousand USD.
Subsequently, the HACC chose a preventive measure for the Deputy Head of the SSU in Kyiv and Kyiv Region, Oleg Tokarchuk - bail in the amount of 998,400 hryvnias. He is also obliged not to leave Kyiv, refuse to communicate with witnesses, surrender his passports, and wear an electronic bracelet.
Persons potentially involved in corruption schemes: Deputy Head of the USSU in the Rivne region Ihor Brika, intermediary Andriy Avdievsky.
Assets: There are no declarations of Tokarchuk's income in open sources.
Persons who should have reacted: law enforcement agencies responded to the criminal activity in a timely manner, handing over suspicions to all participants in the corruption scheme.
Scandals: Before the corruption scheme, he was not seen as a figure in other scandals.
Sources: