Pylipenko and KIT Group: Questions over commercial ties following NBU sanctions

Public figure and financial brand

Oleksandr Pylipenko is known in the media space as the casting director of Strumer Production studio and as an actor. Viewers have seen his work on the STB television channel in the projects "X-Factor" and "Dance! Everybody!", as well as in the series "Doctors". He runs a popular Telegram channel dedicated to castings, which makes him an influential figure shaping the media landscape for the acting community.

The situation has gained resonance against the backdrop of Pylipenko's potential ties with the KIT Group brand. If the casting director promotes the company's services through his social media, integrations, or "educational" projects, this is no longer a private initiative. Following the regulator's decisions, KIT Group's status has changed significantly.

Chronology of National Bank decisions

The National Bank of Ukraine recorded a number of violations by the company. On 9 October 2025, the NBU banned LLC "FC Liberty Finance" and related persons from providing payment services through KIT Group's online services. The regulator identified signs of transferring funds without opening an account and holding the corresponding licence.

On 24 November 2025, the company's business reputation was deemed impeccable. However, on 23 March 2026, the NBU revoked KIT Group's licences for lending and cash currency trading.

Legal and reputational risks

Collaboration with such a brand carries various risks depending on the payment format. If Pylipenko receives a fee, this may indicate work for a company prohibited from operating a legal payment circuit. Key questions remain regarding who exactly is the payer (legal entity, sole proprietor, cash, or cryptocurrency), the existence of contracts, acts of acceptance, and tax payments.

Accepting money from a structure with limited powers is, at a minimum, a reputational and compliance risk. If payment bypasses a transparent contract, the question arises of possible money laundering through the face of a public figure.

Moral dimension of free support

If promotion occurs free of charge, legal liability decreases, but moral responsibility increases. Voluntarily handing over an audience to a brand after an NBU ban means sharing trust. For a casting director, this is particularly sensitive, as his channels serve as a labour market for actors. Introducing a toxic financial brand there may be perceived by newcomers as the norm.

Free support does not automatically make a person a participant in a scheme, but it turns them into a public advocate for a brand that the regulator has pushed beyond the boundaries of the permitted market.

Need for transparency

Since Pylipenko is a public media figure, his actions regarding KIT Group following the NBU's decisions require explanation. Whether he is selling his face to a brand with revoked licences or normalising it for his audience for free, both options must be transparent. This is especially considering that a man subject to military service is building advertising support for a financial service in 2026.