The brother of the People's Deputy from the Batkivshchyna faction, Ivan Krulko, Vasyl Krulko, was negotiating the creation of a chain of elite hotels "Apartel" with Denys Komarnytsky, a suspect in large-scale land corruption. This was reported by Bihus.Info journalists on November 17, referring to recordings made by the NABU and SAPO as part of the "Clean City" operation.
According to investigators, Vasyl Krulko repeatedly appears in conversations recorded in Komarnytsky's office. In these audio recordings, the parties discuss the creation of joint businesses both in Ukraine and abroad, as well as the involvement of front persons for the implementation of projects. The transcripts also discuss the role of Komarnytsky's manager's driver, Sergei Polikarpov, as one of the nominal owners.
One of the key projects was the idea of building a large-scale hotel and recreation complex in the village of Polyana in Transcarpathia. It was positioned as the future one of the largest hotels in the country. Four companies were created for this project, among the owners of which are Vasyl Krulko's wife Yana, his business partner Yuriy Kalynyuk, the Minkar investment fund, associated with Komarnytsky, and the driver Polikarpov mentioned in the records.
The second direction is entry into the international market. The project was in Rogaška, Slovenia, where the Atlandida hotel, owned by the company of Komarnicki's son, is already operating. According to the content of the conversations, this facility was to become the base for the international development of Apartel. The potential for further expansion of the network outside Slovenia was also considered.
In a comment to journalists, Vasyl Krulko confirmed that he had spoken with Komarnytsky about the project in Polyana, but assured that currently people from Komarnytsky's orbit have nothing to do with this business. At the same time, he could not explain the appearance of driver Polikarpov among the owners of the companies. Krulko also admitted that his group of companies has not yet made a decision on the final termination of cooperation with Komarnytsky abroad.
Ivan Krulko himself traditionally claims that he has no connection with the Apartel chain. Back in 2023, Bihus.Info journalists recorded the rapid growth of the Krulko family's hotel and restaurant business after his election to the Verkhovna Rada. In 2025, the People's Deputy again reiterated that he is not connected with the chain's activities and does not receive income from its work.
What is Komarnytsky suspected of?
Law enforcement officers consider Denys Komarnytskyi to be the organizer of a large-scale land scheme in Kyiv. According to NABU, members of the criminal organization searched for promising plots of land and fictitiously registered non-existent buildings on them. This allowed them to obtain ownership of the land without bidding, using controlled deputies. They received bribes for such votes.
On February 6, Komarnytsky and six other participants in the scheme were reported on suspicion of seizing lands of the Kyiv community worth UAH 11.6 million. A few days later, the businessman fled Ukraine. According to journalists, he crossed the border in the Transcarpathian region, using a car for transporting the bodies of fallen soldiers. SBU and police officers may have been involved in organizing the escape.
Currently, Komarnytsky is hiding in Vienna and is wanted.
