20.12.2024 Investigations Money laundering

Yabko corruption scam: billions in losses to the state budget

Новий магазин Ябко у місті Житомир

The Yabko chain of stores has recently been the subject of searches by the BES. The charges were smuggling equipment and tax evasion worth millions of hryvnias. “Yabko has about 110 stores, a network of 150 individual entrepreneurs, and, according to official data from the State Tax Service, managed to evade taxes worth UAH 3.3 billion during the war alone.

The chain, controlled by businessmen Petro Dyminsky, Mykola Kakhnych, and Vitaliy Turkovets, is now one of the most famous for selling branded appliances. But what is the problem? And what is behind the activities of hundreds of Yabko stores?

Apple technology, including iPhones, iPads, MacBooks and accessories, is imported into Ukraine illegally due to violations of customs laws. Instead of official import operations, which involve the payment of VAT and customs duties, the products are imported through fictitious declaration schemes. This allows them to reduce the customs value of goods and avoid taxation.

Briefly about Yabko. At first glance, the Yabko brand is just a chain of electronics stores founded by Mykola Kakhnych. However, if you look deeper, it becomes obvious that this business has a much larger impact. Together with his partner Vitaliy Turkovets, Kakhnych has built a real empire in Lviv’s real estate market, which may be linked to the family of Lviv oligarch and former MP Petro Dyminsky.

Kakhnych and Turkovets’ portfolio includes several real estate rental companies:

  • OOO “MV RENT” (UNIFIED STATE REGISTRATION NUMBER 45229767)
  • D-6 LTD (UNIFIED STATE REGISTRATION NUMBER 45359479)
  • RAVEN-SERVICE LLC (UNIFIED STATE REGISTRATION NUMBER 45215136)
  • “SEVEN R” LTD (UNIFIED STATE REGISTRATION NUMBER 45280514)
  • REAL ESTATE UE LLC (EDRPOU 44526928)
  • City Development Group LLC (EDRPOU 45164071)

D-6 LLC and City Development Group LLC look particularly interesting, as they are, according to YouControl, associated with the Financial and Industrial Group “Dyminsky Family Group”.

Who is Petro Dyminsky?

This businessman, who once owned FC Karpaty, the Continium Group (WOG network), and the ZIK TV channel, is known as one of the most influential figures in Lviv. His family has serious interests in the real estate market, and Dyminsky himself is hiding abroad after a high-profile accident in 2017.

The question of the role of Kakhnych and Turkovets in Dyminsky’s empire remains open. Are they just “junior partners” implementing projects, or do they use their ties to the oligarch for their own enrichment? And why do their companies often participate in large-scale tenders for Lviv real estate?

How does the Yabko scheme work?

1.Smuggling of equipment. Apple equipment is illegally imported from Southeast Asia through fictitious customs declarations that indicate other categories of goods or underestimate their value. Corrupt customs and border guard officials are actively involved in this.

2.Sales through individual entrepreneurs. To sell equipment, Yabko uses dozens of fictitious individual entrepreneurs through whom payments from buyers are made. This system allows the company to avoid paying taxes in full. At the same time, a significant number of transactions are conducted in the “shadows” – without receipts and documents, which creates serious losses for the budget.

3. Money laundering. The funds received are legalized through cryptocurrency exchanges or affiliated companies, such as OKKO. The money is used to buy real estate, cars or corporate rights abroad.

A significant portion of the illegally obtained funds is converted into cryptocurrency. Using cryptocurrency platforms, the company launders money, which is then used to expand its business, buy real estate and invest abroad.

According to preliminary estimates, the Ukrainian budget has lost about UAH 3.3 billion over the past two years due to these schemes. Nevertheless, the network continues to operate despite the media coverage and a wave of searches. Every hryvnia withheld by Yabko means money for the army, education and medicine. While Ukrainians are forced to pay more and more taxes, such networks find ways to avoid the law and enrich themselves at our expense.

This scheme not only hurts the state budget, but also undermines the competitiveness of legal importers. At the same time, it demonstrates how deeply corruption has penetrated government agencies, including customs, tax authorities, and law enforcement.

The revelation of the shadow side of Yabko’s activities raises serious questions for law enforcement: why have no members of the Yabko group been brought to justice? Can law enforcement guarantee a transparent investigation?

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