Former Deputy Head of the State Customs Service Ruslan Cherkassky was dismissed from his post, after which he began to cooperate with NABU, providing information about customs officials for a monetary reward and guarantees of possible reinstatement. The process of his reinstatement is currently underway, and all materials of the pre-trial investigation are classified. Cherkassky no longer appears in other public sources.
The former customs officer's patron in the NABU is Serhiy Sotnychenko, who owns cryptocurrency exchange points, in particular in the Pechersk district of Kyiv. It was to him at office No. 96 on Konovalets Street, 26a, that Cherkasky personally delivered cash and was able to withdraw over two million dollars from the country through cryptocurrency transactions.
Sotnychenko's figure is quite mysterious. Despite fake GUR certificates and wearing a military uniform on social media, he has no connection to the military. In 2023, he received a thank-you from the National Security and Defense Council, and later a medal and award weapons.
According to sources, Sotnychenko received such privileges thanks to friendships with influential representatives of law enforcement agencies, which he builds through generous gifts and participation in corruption schemes.
