A gang that set fire to property and extorted money from business owners was apprehended in the Kyiv region
Law enforcement officials have uncovered an organized group involved in extortion and arson targeting business owners in Kyiv and the surrounding region.
This was reported by the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the investigation, in 2025–2026, seven men from the Zhytomyr region systematically committed serious crimes, including arson and extortion.
Among the documented incidents were the arson of the victim’s apartment door and an attempt to destroy his car.
The organizer led the so-called “enforcement unit,” which included individuals with prior convictions. The participants played various roles—from perpetrators and couriers to coordinators and those who intimidated the victims.
The perpetrators acted cautiously: they scouted the area, checked for cameras, and used various vehicles and GPS trackers for surveillance. To move around during curfew, they had forged IDs and passes.
On April 7, law enforcement conducted 34 searches in Kyiv, the Kyiv region, and the Zhytomyr region. Weapons, grenades, forged documents, phones, money, and vehicles were seized.
Six suspects were detained, and another was placed on the wanted list. All suspects were notified of the charges against them, and preventive measures were imposed.
The prosecutor’s office is demanding the recovery of 14 million hryvnias from the developer of the “Nordica Residence” residential complex.
As a reminder, the prosecutor’s office will appeal the lenient preventive measure imposed on SBU officials.
The prosecutor’s office has also blocked a scheme involving the sale of fake law enforcement IDs.
