The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has announced suspicion of another person involved in a large-scale corruption case involving the family of Lviv businessman Ihor Hrynkevich. This time, the suspicion concerns Volodymyr Benyo, co-founder of the Hope UA charity foundation, who, according to investigators, was involved in large-scale fraud that caused significant financial losses for the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
According to the State Bureau of Investigation, Volodymyr Benyo, a close childhood friend of Roman Hrynkevich, together with other members of an organized group created a criminal scheme to launder money through the charity foundation "Hope UA" (EDRPOU 44681121). In fact, this foundation was probably used to illegally obtain funds obtained through inflated contracts for the supply of military equipment.
According to investigators, companies associated with this group — TLR, BAM, and BC Sitigrad — entered into contracts for the supply of products that did not meet the required standards. As a result of these frauds, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine suffered significant financial losses in the amount of more than 1.16 billion hryvnias.
According to operational data from the State Bureau of Investigation, Volodymyr Benyo entered Ukraine on August 28, 2023 through the Krakivets checkpoint, but in January 2024 he illegally left the country and is hiding in the capital of Austria, Vienna. In February of the same year, the court arrested the suspect in absentia. Currently, law enforcement officers are preparing documents for his international wanted list and possible extradition from Austria.
Volodymyr Benyo, as it turned out, is a relative of the Hrynkevichs - the son of Iryna Benyo, the sister of Ihor Hrynkevich's wife. This fact adds another important indication of the likely role of family ties in corruption schemes that spread across various sectors of business and public procurement.
Investigators emphasize that the investigation into the case is ongoing, and they are ready to hold all participants in this large-scale corruption scheme accountable.
An equally important stage in this case was the seizure of the property of the Hrynkevich family and companies with which Igor Hrynkevich is associated. Journalists have already calculated the amount of the seized assets, which constitute a significant part of the family's business.
The State Bureau of Investigation declares its readiness to take further steps to uncover the entire large-scale corruption scheme aimed at the illegal use of public funds, and assures that all those involved will be held accountable.
The investigation into this case continues to be an important step in the fight against corruption in Ukraine and in exposing all those involved.
