In Poltava, people were forcibly evicted from their flats and held in barred building until they died: 5 million hryvnia scam has been exposed. PHOTO
In Poltava, law enforcement officers have uncovered an organised group whose members are suspected of seizing the flats of lonely and socially vulnerable people. According to the investigation, the victims were unlawfully deprived of their liberty and held in a derelict building, where they could have remained for the rest of their lives.
This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General, as reported by Censor.NET.
How flats were seized in Poltava
According to the investigation, the scheme was organised by a 60-year-old local resident with a history of multiple previous convictions. The group included his partner, who worked as an assistant to a private notary, the notary himself, and other individuals close to the organiser.
The suspects sought out people who had no close relatives or heirs. They gained their trust, offered help and, under this pretext, moved into their flats.
Subsequently, according to the police, the group’s members stole property documents, took mobile phones, intimidated and beat the owners, and then forcibly evicted them from their homes.
The notary, according to the investigation, drew up powers of attorney or wills on behalf of the victims in favour of the ringleader and his partner.
They were taken out of the city and held in a building with bars
After seizing the victims’ homes, they were forcibly taken outside Poltava.
According to the prosecution, the victims were held under constant surveillance in a derelict building with bars fitted to the windows.
The Office of the Prosecutor General states that the victims remained there until their deaths.
The investigation has so far identified four victims. Between September 2024 and April 2025, the suspects, according to law enforcement, took possession of five of their flats with a total value of over 5 million hryvnias.
Six suspects have been remanded in custody
Under the procedural supervision of the Poltava Regional Prosecutor’s Office, six members of the group have been served with notices of suspicion.
Depending on their roles, they are charged with fraudulently acquiring property and rights to it, document theft and unlawful deprivation of liberty.
The court has ordered that all six be remanded in custody as a precautionary measure.
An alternative has been set for the notary and her assistant – bail of over 5 million hryvnias for each.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
