Large-scale scheme of "extortion" on international tickets organised: officials of "Ukrzaliznytsia" were served notice of suspicion. PHOTOS
Law enforcement officers served suspicion notices to "Ukrzaliznytsia" officials who earned millions on international tickets. For each flight, the train manager had to bring in a "cash register" - from 2000 hryvnias from the route within Ukraine and from 2000 to 5000 euros from the most popular foreign connections.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to the press centre of the National Police's State Investigation Service and the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office.
Ticketing scheme
It is noted that the criminal organisation was created by the head of one of the trade unions, i.e. the "shadow" supervisor of all processes related to passenger transport by rail. He selected a team from among the management and officials of the "Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi" station.
He involved the deputy station manager, train crew instructors and heads of international trains in this scheme.
Ticket price: from 300 euros
Thus, the investigation established that members of the criminal organisation systematically sold passengers seats in service compartments and rest compartments of conductors that are not sold at the ticket office or in the UZ app.
Such tickets were sold at a price of 300-500 euros, although the official price of a ticket for the Kyiv-Warsaw train is 3,700 hryvnias. Passengers paid the money "in hand" to train managers or international conductors.
In addition, before "Ukrzaliznytsia" introduced the passenger verification system through Diia.Signature, scheme participants bought tickets to resell them to passengers immediately before departure.
Under such schemes, tickets were sold for the Kyiv-Warsaw, Kyiv-Chelm, Dnipro-Kyiv-Chelm-Kyiv-Dnipro, Kyiv-Premysl, Kyiv-Chisinau, and other international trains.
Searches and suspicions
Thus, in just six months in 2024, "Ukrzaliznytsia" lost UAH 73 million in this way.
In addition to the fact that these funds "settled" in the pockets of the criminals, and their actions led to an artificial shortage of travel tickets in the free sale system.
During more than 80 searches, almost UAH 5 million in national and foreign currency, cars, draft records, documentation, phones, etc. were seized.
Law enforcement officers served 10 suspicions.
Depending on their role in the criminal scheme, the suspects' actions are qualified:
- under Art. 255(1), (2) and (3) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (Establishment, management of a criminal community or criminal organisation, as well as participation in it);
- under Art. 364(1) and (2) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power or position).
Response of JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia"
"Ukrzaliznytsia" responded to the revelation by stating that such a "shameful phenomenon" had accompanied the company for decades, but that it had finally come to an end.
"The purpose of the decisive actions of Ukrzaliznytsia's management is to protect them from criminal extortionists 'born in the 90s'. This investigation concerns the largest production unit in the capital, but in the future, each signal will be thoroughly checked in the regional divisions, and the response will be no less effective," the statement said.
