Cherkasy region: SSU detains racketeer who extorted money from families of fallen Ukrainian soldiers

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has arrested an extortionist in Cherkasy who demanded a portion of the financial aid received by the families of deceased Ukrainian soldiers from their relatives. This particularly pertains to a one-time payment of 15 million hryvnias following a soldier's death in the war. The SSU press service reported this.

In case of refusal, the extortionist threatened the victims with violence and physical harm, including their children.

The SSU documented that the culprit was demanding nearly 800,000 hryvnias from the mother and sister of a Ukrainian serviceman who died in the spring of 2022 near Severodonetsk.

To extract this sum, the criminal regularly terrorized the soldier's family and threatened to kill the women.

During operational activities, SSU agents apprehended the extortionist in the act of receiving part of the "tribute" amounting to 200,000 hryvnias.

According to the investigation, the arrested individual is a local resident who utilized his connections among the region's inhabitants to gather information about the relatives of deceased Ukrainian defenders.

Upon learning that the affected families were receiving state aid, the perpetrator would call them from anonymous numbers and demand his "share."

During a search conducted at his place of residence, mobile phones used in his criminal activities were discovered. Additionally, two live grenades were confiscated from him.

Currently, the arrested individual has been informed of suspicion under Part 4 of Article 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (extortion causing significant property damage, committed under wartime conditions), and he has been remanded in custody without the right to post bail.

The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime and the exact number of victims. The perpetrator faces up to 12 years in prison.

Comprehensive actions were carried out by SSU personnel in the Cherkasy region in collaboration with the National Police under the procedural guidance of the regional prosecutor's office.