Organizer of сhurch raids in Kyiv region caught in extortion scheme

Vitalii Krupenko (right), head of the Zazymia Territorial Community, receives an award from Serhii Dumenko. Photo: OCU

On April 18, 2023, law enforcement officers caught Vitalii Krupenko, head of the Zazymia Territorial Community in Kyiv region, red-handed. According to the National Police, the official had been misappropriating budget funds and organized a kickback scheme linked to the implementation of state contracts.

Investigators found that Krupenko involved preferred intermediaries in public projects and received a 15 percent kickback from the total value of each contract.

According to the police, he attempted to use the scheme in connection with budget funds allocated for emergency restoration work along the banks of the Desna River.

The National Police also stated that several of Krupenko’s associates were involved in the corruption scheme.

“The issue is being considered of serving the community head with notices of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 368 (acceptance of an offer, promise, or receipt of an unlawful benefit by an official) and Part 4 of Article 191 (misappropriation, embezzlement, or acquisition of property through abuse of office) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, as well as selecting a preventive measure,” the agency said.

It should be noted that Krupenko has been identified as one of the organizers of UOC church seizures. According to the UOJ, he was behind the takeovers of UOC churches in the villages of Pohreby and Zazymia in Kyiv region.

As the UOJ reported, OCU supporters seized the UOC’s Resurrection Church in Zazymya.

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