Criminal group in Ukraine demanded $800,000 from crypto entrepreneurs
Date: 2025-09-09 Author: Oliver Abernathy Categories: IN WORLD
Law enforcement agencies in Ukraine have uncovered the activities of an organized criminal group that controlled individual cities and even correctional facilities. The gang leader was the so-called "overseer" of Kolomyia. According to the investigation, it was from the family of crypto entrepreneurs that the criminals demanded the largest amount - $800,000, hiding behind fictitious debts.
The investigation established that the group included 12 people, most of whom already had convictions for serious crimes. The participants used threats, psychological pressure and blackmail, demanding various amounts from residents of the region - from $8,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The size of the demands depended on the level of wealth of a particular victim.
In order to document the criminal activity, police and the SBU conducted large-scale searches in nine regions of the country. During the operations, firearms, cars, cash, and draft records confirming their participation in extortion schemes were seized from the defendants.
As a result of the investigation, all 12 members of the group were informed of suspicion of extortion under Part 4 of Article 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This article provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 12 years with confiscation of property. At the moment, all detainees are in custody and awaiting further court decisions.
Ukrainian law enforcement officials note that such cases are becoming more common, especially in regions where new business areas are actively developing, including the cryptocurrency market. The presence of large financial flows makes entrepreneurs from this industry attractive targets for organized criminal structures.
Recall that large international fraud schemes related to cryptocurrencies have previously been recorded in Ukraine. These investigations confirm that criminal groups are increasingly targeting crypto market participants, using both classical methods of pressure and digital tools.
The story with the Ivano-Frankivsk region has become another example of how vulnerable crypto entrepreneurs can be without proper legal and security protection. Law enforcement agencies emphasize that they continue to pay special attention to such crimes in order to prevent the spread of criminal influence to the rapidly growing sphere of digital assets.
