The SBI served a notification of suspicion to the law enforcement officer from Kyiv who had stolen the money that was seized during the investigation and had been hiding in the forest in the Rivne region

The employees of the State Bureau of Investigation, together with the Internal Security Department of the National Police of Ukraine, have initiated criminal proceeding into the misappropriation of material evidence worth more than UAH 13 million by the head of one of the investigative units of Kyiv law enforcement agency.

According to the investigation, the official, contrary to the requirements of the law, kept in his office the material evidence, namely the money in various currencies. The funds had previously been seized by his subordinates during a pre-trial investigation and were to be transferred to a banking institution for safekeeping.

On November 3, 2025, the law enforcement officer did not show up at work, and the aforementioned funds were missing from his office.

Three days later, on November 6, the SBI and police officers located the man — he was hiding in a forest in the Rivne region, where he had set up temporary accommodation. For this, he had bought a minibus, a tent, a charging station, a large amount of food, and various equipment for a long stay in the forest.

During searches of the law enforcement officer's car and the «hiding place» more than UAH 12.6 million in foreign currency was found and seized.

The law enforcement officer was detained. Urgent investigative measures are currently being carried out, and steps are being taken to establish the whereabouts of the rest of the money.

The issue of choosing a preventive measure in the form of detention is being decided.

The law enforcement officer has been notified of suspicion under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — misappropriation of another person's property on an especially large scale through abuse of official position.

The article provides for up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The procedural guidance is provided by the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office.