In the Cherkasy region, a criminal group demanded $250,000 from a family
Under the procedural guidance of prosecutors from the Office of the Prosecutor General, law enforcement officers uncovered and dismantled a criminal group in the Cherkasy region that had been extorting 250,000 U.S. dollars from a local family over the course of a year.
According to the investigation, a 42-year-old resident of Cherkasy Oblast organized the group, recruiting six other individuals with clearly defined roles.
The members coordinated their actions, monitored the victims, gathered information about them and their relatives, and carried out threats, psychological pressure, and physical intimidation.
They demanded money under the pretext of a non-existent debt. To force the family to hand over the funds, the perpetrators systematically harassed the victims, threatened them with physical harm, damaged their property, and intimidated the family.
By April 2025, the group members had already obtained $50,000, after which they made a new demand—an additional $200,000.
After the victim contacted law enforcement, the suspects’ subsequent actions were documented as part of the investigation. Twenty-two searches were conducted in the Cherkasy region, during which physical evidence and documents were seized.
On June 17, 2026, five members of the group were detained directly during the handover of the money; two other individuals were notified of their status as suspects in absentia and placed on the wanted list.
The suspects are charged with extortion involving threats of violence and destruction of property, committed by an organized group under martial law (Part 4 of Article 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
At the request of the prosecution, all detainees have been placed in pretrial detention as a preventive measure.
In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Earlier in Kyiv, law enforcement officers exposed and detained a group of criminals who were attempting to profit at the expense of the family of a conscript.
The SBU also detained a Russian agent who was guiding airstrikes on Sloviansk.
As a reminder, the SBU has referred the case of Andriy Parubiy’s murder to court.
