The BEB seized a record 630 million hryvnia during searches at Anton Tkachenko’s KIT Group (updated)
The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine conducted large-scale searches in connection with a case involving a network of illegal currency exchange offices and seized more than 630 million hryvnia in various currencies. According to UA.News, the investigative actions were carried out at an organization linked to the KIT Group network and its owner, Anton Tkachenko.
The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine reported the record-breaking cash seizure.
According to official information from the Bureau, detectives, in collaboration with the Office of the Prosecutor General, uncovered a shadow financial network through which tens of billions of hryvnias could be diverted from the legal economy each year. The Bureau notes that the investigation concerns the legalization (laundering) of funds obtained through criminal means.
Law enforcement officials report that the network operated with a high degree of secrecy. Hidden vaults, secret compartments, and even tunnels were used to store cash. According to investigators, the activities of the currency exchange offices were coordinated from a single central location. A special system was also used that allowed access to the network’s financial records to be blocked on command.
BEB detectives simultaneously conducted 30 searches. As a result, over 630 million hryvnias in various currencies were seized—the Bureau called this the largest cash seizure in the agency’s history. BEB Director Oleksandr Tsivinsky reported on Telegram that phones, equipment, and rough accounting records were also seized during the searches.
KIT Group operated in the Ukrainian currency exchange market. The National Bank of Ukraine had previously documented the brand’s ties to Liberty Finance FC LLC and Anton Tkachenko. The NBU documents noted that “Liberty Finance” used the KIT Group trademark to brand the premises where currency exchange offices operated.
Investigative proceedings in the criminal case are ongoing. The BEB has not yet reported any suspicions against specific individuals in connection with this operation.
Following the publication of the article, KIT Group provided the editorial office with its official statement. The company stated that KIT Group is not a financial institution, does not hold a license to conduct currency exchange operations, and does not carry out such operations on its own. According to company representatives, its activities consist of providing information and technical services—specifically, helping users compare market offers and find financial service providers.
KIT Group also noted that the official statement from the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine dated October 2 regarding the seizure of over 630 million hryvnias did not mention the company’s name or Anton Tkachenko’s name. According to KIT Group, the seized funds belong to the company’s partners, not to KIT Group itself. The company asserts that the funds are of lawful origin and states that its legal team is preparing documents to confirm their ownership and sources of origin.
KIT Group also emphasized that the conduct of investigative actions and the seizure of property do not in and of themselves imply a finding of guilt.
