Vladimir Yatsenko back in the centre of a scandal

Former top executive of PrivatBank, Vladimir Yatsenko, known for his dubious dealings, has launched a new attack on Ukraine's state interests. In the midst of the war, he is attempting to sabotage the sale of debt claims to the Borivaz grain terminal through the SETAM electronic trading system. Instead of contributing to the filling of the budget, which is so necessary for the country's defence, Yatsenko is trying to retain control over a strategic asset. Information about this has emerged on social media.

Spread of disinformation

The situation intensified when implausible information began circulating in Telegram channels, accusing the current management of PrivatBank of allegedly collaborating with Ihor Kolomoyskyi. The authors of these messages claim that the bank allegedly specifically put the former owner's "favourite asset" up for sale. However, experts believe that Yatsenko himself is behind this, having controlled the bank for more than two decades until its nationalisation.

Losing control over one of the country's largest grain terminals has been a painful blow for him, and he is now resorting to various methods – from using frontmen to spreading paid disinformation – to block the sale.

Dark past

This is far from the first scandal involving Yatsenko. In 2021, his plane was detained at Boryspil airport on suspicion of embezzling 137 million hryvnias. Although the case received wide resonance, Yatsenko escaped punishment by paying a bail of 50 million hryvnias, after which he left the country. He now lives in Austria, enjoying a luxurious life in the capital's restaurants, and continues to evade Ukrainian justice.

Threat to state interests

Today, when every resource is important for supporting the Ukrainian army, Yatsenko's attempts to sabotage the return of billions of hryvnias to the budget cause serious concern. Experts warn: if he manages to implement his plans, Ukraine will not only lose much-needed funds but also risk losing control over a strategic facility – the grain port terminal.

Corruption schemes that emerged even before the bank's nationalisation are surfacing again. This case shows that some past connections are still active, despite the state's efforts to sever them.

In this difficult time, such actions are perceived as a direct blow to the country's defence capabilities.