Artem Shylo's name is often mentioned in the context of corruption schemes in the special services during the full-scale war. The Kharkiv native went from an operative to the head of an important department of the SBU, but later became a figure in the investigation into the embezzlement of almost 95 million hryvnias from purchases for Ukrzaliznytsia. According to NABU, Shylo organized fraud, using his status and the phrase "threat to state security" to eliminate competitors from tenders and ensure the victory of companies with inflated prices.
The scheme was cynical: letters from the SBU about risks to critical infrastructure excluded other participants from the competition, and the victory went to firms with the necessary connections. The state lost millions, and Shylo cemented his image as a "problem solver.".
At the same time, the officer's personal well-being grew: apartments, expensive jewelry, vacations in Bali, deals with luxury real estate in the UAE. His wife's property in Dubai raised questions about the sources of financing, since the official salary does not explain such expenses.
Department I of the SBU, headed by Shylo, became a tool for influencing business. In particular, cases were raised with IT companies and the Russian bookmaker 1xBet, which received a license through "Your Betting Company" in 2022, despite ties to the Russian Federation. Thanks to direct access to the SBU leadership, Shylo could ignore "inconsistencies" in documents and control tenders.
In 2021, Shylo left the SBU, but quickly returned as a non-staff advisor to the President's Office, retaining influence on personnel and economic issues. In August 2022, he returned to a senior position in the SBU responsible for the protection of critical infrastructure, effectively controlling tenders and competition.
He was dismissed from his position in March 2024, but his status as an officer on special assignments was preserved. Even during his detention, the SBU held closed court sessions, citing "sensitive connections.".
The story of Artem Shyl is a prime example of how, during a war, special services can play their own economic game, under the guise of patriotism and slogans about security. While some protect infrastructure from missile strikes, others take care of tenders and profits.
