Record-breaking year for criminal cases against businesses in Ukraine
Source: Opendatabot
In an unprecedented surge, 2023 saw a record 43,138 criminal cases opened against businesses in Ukraine, the highest number since 2012.
According to analytical firm Opendatabot, 5,015 private Ukrainian companies were involved in criminal proceedings in 2023, with at least six companies facing money laundering charges and four more involved in collaboration activities.
Overall, last year recorded a shocking 43,000 references to domestic businesses in a criminal context. At least 2,839 companies are dealing with criminal investigations this year.
One company faces charges of treason, three are accused of collaboration with the enemy, and ten more are implicated in money laundering schemes. Experts point out that 80% of criminal cases against businesses result in no convictions or even fail to reach the courts.
“Businesses listed in the court registry as involved in criminal cases face ongoing issues with financial monitoring and compliance. Even if a case is closed, records in the court registry remain permanently, making it impossible to remove or dismiss them. Currently, businesses have no means to protect their reputations in these situations,” said Opendatabot founder Oleksiy Ivankin.
It is worth noting that directive 65 by the National Bank of Ukraine requires the inspection of companies that have been “involved in criminal cases,” which has become a headache for such businesses as they “encounter difficulties in financial operations.”
After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine witnessed an unprecedented wave of private support for the army. Citizens, big businesses, charitable foundations, and international philanthropists began financing the country’s defense alongside state assistance provided by international partners. Estimates of total private contributions range from tens to hundreds of billions of hryvnias. However, determining the exact amount remains difficult. In many cases, companies combine military aid, humanitarian programs, tax payments, social spending, and employee support in their reporting.
Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, “Steel Front”, has delivered a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million to the 1st “Azov” Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This shipment is part of the Metinvest Group’s ongoing support for the unit in 2025.
On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.
Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.
Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.