Agents from the State Bureau of Investigations, with the assistance of the Security Service of Ukraine, have apprehended two law enforcement officers from the Odesa region who consistently demanded bribes from small business owners. Under the threat of mobilizing their employees, entrepreneurs were forced to pay a specified amount.

Since November 2024, the suspects required monthly payments, threatening to notify military enlistment offices about employees not registered for military service, as well as imposing fines and issuing summonses.

The average monthly «tribute» amounted to 9,000 hryvnias per entrepreneur, determined on an individual basis. Overall, they collected around 220,000 hryvnias from nearly 30 entrepreneurs each month, which they shared among themselves.

"On March 27, 2025, one of them was caught receiving another bribe from several entrepreneurs totaling 42,000 hryvnias. Both suspects have been informed of their suspicion under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (receiving unlawful benefits)" - the message states.

The penalty under this article provides for up to 10 years of imprisonment. The court has chosen to detain them with an alternative bail set at 1 million hryvnias each. A motion for their suspension from office is being prepared. The procedural guidance is provided by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.