Vladyslav Helzin - illegal cigarette production and a luxurious life in Monaco

The State Bureau of Investigation is working with the case defendants, demanding the extradition of one of them, and is also verifying the legality of the departure of more than 80 people linked to the "Monaco Battalion". However, one of the key participants — Vladyslav Helzin, a smuggler and owner of a retail chain, is evading the attention of law enforcement agencies.

Helzin, originally from Donetsk, was linked to local criminal groups, a fact confirmed by his partner Mykhailo Lyashko, who is well-known in the criminal underworld. After the war began in 2014, Helzin left and became the owner of a football club and the "Pchelka" store, but his name has resurfaced in connection with tobacco smuggling.

Helzin has ties to illegal cigarette production through the company "Ukrainian Tobacco Production", which has been noted for violations and smuggling. For instance, a batch of counterfeit cigarettes was seized in 2022, and in 2023, Helzin found himself at the centre of a scandal involving forged excise stamps.

Despite his activities, Helzin continues to live on the French Riviera, drive a Ferrari, and avoid the attention of Ukrainian law enforcement. While his children, including model Dina, actively support Ukraine, Helzin himself continues to run his business, evading taxes and engaging in illegal trade.