In three sentences: A major Ukrainian grain entrepreneur has come forward to describe a flawless extortion system operating directly out of the Ukrainian intelligence service, the SBU. Monthly „taxes“ of up to ten million dollars, luxury gifts, armored cars, and even a 20-million-dollar bribe offered for the governorship of Odessa allegedly kept the system running. Following an assassination attempt, Serhiy Vahanyan fled to Austria in 2021 and handed over evidence to NABU and the FBI.
The Interview:
The Trigger: In the summer of 2021, Vahanyan said „no.“ He refused to pay a 20-million-dollar bribe and declined to make a large corn delivery to a sanctioned oligarch. A few days later, shots were fired at him outside his home. He only survived thanks to his bodyguards and a bulletproof vest. Shortly thereafter, all his grain, valued at 44 million dollars, was stolen. He fled to Vienna.
Who says what:
- „I say openly that they, along with President Zelenskyy, are criminals,“ Serhiy Vahanyan stated verbatim.
- „The justice system is rotten; the law enforcement agencies are rotten. Something like this exists nowhere else in the civilized world.“
- Vahanyan: „Shortly after, an assassination attempt was made on me in front of my house. Shots were fired. My bodyguards and the fact that I was wearing a bulletproof vest saved me.“
The Moral Picture: The system functioned simply and brutally. SBU employees would call entrepreneurs, cite the exact amount of grain sold and the specific port—and demand 30 to 50 percent of the profit in cash. Those who did not pay faced fabricated criminal proceedings, raids, or physical liquidation. Vahanyan cites specific cases of businessmen who were killed after refusing to comply.
Between the Lines
- Naumov and Bakanov allegedly formed an organized criminal group within the SBU.
- Payments were made in cash, cars, jewelry, furniture, or real estate—often registered in the names of relatives.
- The SBU did not issue official licenses; it merely „protected“ businesses from itself.
- Vahanyan documented handovers with photos, videos, and audio recordings.
- He handed over parts of the material to NABU and via email to the FBI.
- In 2022, Russian troops apparently exploited vulnerabilities created by Naumov—specifically in Chernobyl, Kherson, Kharkiv, and Sumy.
- Zelenskyy personally reportedly promised Vahanyan an objective investigation in April 2022—but nothing happened.
- To this day, a staged proceeding against Vahanyan continues in Ukraine, while he remains under police protection in Austria.
Follow the Money: Vahanyan alone allegedly paid up to ten million dollars a month. The system was widespread across the industry. The entire grain export sector became a „cash cow“ for the SBU. While Europe pumped billions into Ukraine, a portion of it apparently flowed directly into the pockets of Zelenskyy’s inner circle.
The Other View: So far, there is no official statement from the Presidential Office or the SBU. President Zelenskyy remains silent. Ukrainian authorities have reacted to Vahanyan’s allegations by launching new, apparently fabricated proceedings against him.
Go Deeper: The full transcript of the interview: [Link]
Why this matters: Because this system apparently did not end in 2021—it continues to this day. While Ukraine fights for its survival, a portion of its own security agencies allegedly continues to function like a „Criminal Ltd.“ And the President, who once vowed to eradicate corruption, is alleged to have known about and tolerated it all.
The presumption of innocence applies to all persons mentioned in the article.
Glossary
- NABU: The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) was founded in 2015. It is responsible for investigating corruption by high-ranking officials.
- SAP: The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) is an independent unit of the Prosecutor General’s Office that oversees NABU investigations.
- SBU: The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is the central domestic intelligence agency under the direct supervision of the President.
- Serhiy Vahanyan: A Ukrainian entrepreneur in the agricultural and medical technology sectors. Since January 2026, he has publicly raised serious allegations regarding an extortion system within the SBU.
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy: President of Ukraine since May 2019.
- Ivan Bakanov: Head of the SBU from 2019 to July 2022 and a long-time close confidant of Zelenskyy.
- Andriy Naumov: Former head of the SBU’s Main Directorate for Internal Security and Bakanov’s „right-hand man.“
