Source: NPU, a source from the law enforcement agencies speaking to "Ukrainian Truth"
Direct quote from the National Police: "The suspect intentionally purchased a financial institution to carry out his criminal intent. He involved the chairman and board members of the bank, the chairman of the supervisory board, private entrepreneurs, appraisers, and state registrars in the scheme. Under the organizer's guidance, they registered large real estate properties in the state register, allegedly located in central areas of Kyiv and Kharkiv.
These nonexistent properties became the basis for collateral in securing loans totaling over 90 million UAH. With the illegally obtained funds from bank depositors, the suspects financed their own business projects, including the construction of factories and thermal power plants, operational activities of a coal mine, and the acquisition of luxury cars and real estate. Additionally, employees of the bank's security department annually prepared reports verifying the existence and liquidity of the non-existent collateral.
All of this led to the bank being declared insolvent in 2021 due to its failure to fulfill payments to its clients and settle payment orders. Police investigators and operatives from the Department of Strategic Investigations identified 27 individuals who were part of the criminal organization at various times."
Details: The law enforcement message does not specify the name of the bank or its owner's identity, but according to a source from UP, it concerns the owner of the bank that went bankrupt in 2021 "Zemelny Kapital," Viktor Topolov (Minister of Coal Industry of Ukraine from 2005 to 2006).
According to the police, seven individuals involved in the criminal scheme have already been notified of suspicions related to embezzlement, misappropriation of property, or gaining ownership through abuse of office and official forgery as part of an organized group.
At the same time, in January 2025, investigators reportedly gathered enough evidence to announce suspicions against the bank's management for creating, leading, and participating in a criminal organization, embezzlement, misappropriation of property, or gaining ownership through abuse of office, official forgery, and laundering proceeds obtained through criminal means. Among the suspects is the owner of the bankrupt bank (Topolov - ed.).
It was noted that to preserve physical evidence and compensate for the damages incurred, the police have seized 12 apartments belonging to the suspects in the capital, 5 private houses in central Kyiv with a total area of over 2000 square meters, land plots, 12 luxury cars, 12 parking spaces, and corporate rights in the charter capital of companies affiliated with the suspects.