Millions from shadow assets to the budget: The SBI intensifies pressure on officials over illegal assets

The identification and confiscation to the state of assets illegally acquired by public officials remains one of the top priorities of the State Bureau of Investigation. The employees of the SBI pay particular attention to cases where officials accumulate assets without legal grounds, especially during a full-scale war.

The employees of the SBI systematically identify assets owned or used by officials and their family members without documented legal income. The focus is primarily on property acquired after the start of russia’s full-scale invasion.

In the first quarter of 2026 alone, the SBI referred eight cases to the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office concerning the possible acquisition of unjustified assets by public officials, totaling over UAH 39 million. This is twice as many as during the same period last year.

At the same time, based on materials provided by the Bureau, five lawsuits have been filed on recognition of such assets as unjustified and its forfeiture to the state revenue —totaling over UAH 19 million.

The court proceedings are already showing results. In the first quarter of 2026, the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine granted six claims totaling over UAH 37 million. In two additional cases, the rulings have already become final.

A telling example is the decision by the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine, which upheld the confiscation of over UAH 8 million in assets belonging to former heads of the Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support in the Kharkiv region. They currently hold manager positions in another region, but according to the law, they must be dismissed.

The SBI continues work to identify illegal assets held by public officials and ensure their confiscation to the state. This approach not only restores justice but also reinforces the inevitability of accountability for illegal enrichment.