# Shadow economy
I am calling for a meeting of the Committee to hear the BEB report – Getmantsev
Despite reports from the Economic Security Bureau that the ‘Marketopt’ chain has ceased operations, the shops continue to operate as usual. The chain is also still looking for new self-employed staff.
An illegal tobacco production operation has been uncovered in Odesa and the Ternopil region; the organisers have been charged
Law enforcement officers have informed members of an inter-regional group, which organised the illegal production of tobacco products in Odesa, that they are under suspicion. According to the investigation, residents of Odesa and Ternopil were involved in the scheme.
Andriy Rubel has been appointed as the new head of the Kyiv Regional Police
Ivan Vyhovskyi, Head of the National Police of Ukraine, has introduced the new Head of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Kyiv Region. The post has been taken up by Andrii Rubel.
The MP stated that the Economic Security Bureau should be tackling the shadow economy, rather than posting on Facebook
Ukrainian MP Danylo Getmantsev believes that the Economic Security Bureau should be tackling the shadow economy rather than posting on Facebook. This is the key to creating an attractive business climate in the country and attracting investment.
During the war, the State Bureau of Investigation will spend 13.5 million hryvnias on software for media analytics and the preparation of ‘aesthetic’ reports
The State Bureau of Investigations is to purchase business analytics software worth 13.5 million hryvnias.
Under Tsyvinskyi’s leadership, the ESBU increased its expenditure on overseas business trips
In the first quarter of 2026, the Economic Security Bureau spent over 1.2 million hryvnias on business travel. Expenditure on overseas travel doubled compared with the same period last year.
The Economic Security Bureau considers the cars parked nearby to be a terrorist threat
The Economic Security Bureau has asked the Kyiv City State Administration to install bollards outside its premises due to the “risk of sabotage and reconnaissance activities” carried out using cars parked nearby. Each bollard costs almost 2,000 UAH.
Budget losses from the black market for vapes could reach 10 billion hryvnia in 2026
Despite high-profile statements by law enforcement agencies regarding the dismantling of illegal schemes, the black market for e-cigarettes in Ukraine continues to grow. Experts estimate that in 2026 alone, the state budget risks losing around 10 billion hryvnias in tax revenue due to the activities of ‘grey’ networks.
The grey market for vapes in Ukraine accounts for almost 100%, according to a Kantar study
According to research firm Kantar, the illegal e-cigarette market accounts for 93 per cent of the total market in Ukraine. As a result, experts estimate that the budget is losing 10 billion hryvnias in this sector.
Duplicate receipts and ‘self-checks’: how the UVAPE shop in the capital works (VIDEO)
Every year, the Ukrainian budget loses between 8 and 10 billion hryvnias due to the illegal vape market, according to various estimates. One of the largest chains accused of illegal activity is Uvape. Recently, the Director of the Economic Security Bureau, Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi, reported on the dismantling of this illegal scheme. However, the chain continues to operate, still evading tax payments.
The National Police have uncovered a money-laundering operation with a turnover of over 18 billion hryvnias
Law enforcement officials have announced the uncovering of a large-scale tax evasion scheme involving hundreds of shell companies. Charges have been brought against the organiser and those involved.
The ESBU has uncovered a scheme to fragment a retail chain in the Poltava region
Detectives of the Economic Security Bureau have carried out searches at a large chain of grocery stores operating across several regions of Ukraine. Investigators believe the company used thousands of sole traders to minimise its tax liability.
