Searches and detentions at Ukrzaliznytsia: National Police of Ukraine.
On 11 December, Ukrzaliznytsia became the focus of a large-scale investigation. The National Police, together with representatives of the company, conducted a series of searches and detentions aimed at exposing corruption schemes that had been operating in the railway system for a long time. This was reported by Time Ukraine Israel, citing the BBC.
“The clean-up continues”
“The cleansing process is underway,” a source at Ukrzaliznytsia told BBC Ukraine. The company’s press release notes that the main goal of the investigation was to stop the activities of an organised criminal group that had been “parasitising” railway workers for years. Searches were conducted both at the suspects’ homes and on international trains.
Despite the temporary inconvenience caused by the traffic delays, investigators collected a significant amount of evidence. The police stated that the key focus of the investigation was ticket fraud on popular international flights, in particular, Kyiv-Warsaw. These schemes led to an artificial shortage of tickets that could only be purchased for bribes.
Tickets not available for everyone
The shortage of tickets for routes to Warsaw became a serious problem after the start of the full-scale invasion. According to the BBC, even after the introduction of verification through Diia, corruption schemes allowed people to buy tickets for any date for an additional “reward”.
This situation had serious consequences for the passengers, which prompted immediate intervention by law enforcement.
Is the detention of “Ded” the end of the era of extortion?
The detained high-ranking official of Ukrzaliznytsia, known by the pseudonym “Grandfather”, deserved special attention of investigators. According to sources, he had been extorting bribes from employees, from conductors to repair crews, for years. The bribes allowed him to hold prestigious positions or work on lucrative routes.
These schemes have existed since Soviet times. Conductors had to pay to get on a flight, and the “bread and butter” international routes remained available only for substantial bribes. Those who refused to participate in the schemes were subjected to harassment and even physical violence.
How the system worked
To compensate for the “costs” of extortion, conductors resorted to unofficial income, such as transporting stowaways, selling alcohol or reusing linen. The situation began to change with the introduction of new rules that banned the sale of bedding in the cars. However, systemic problems remained unresolved.
“Grandfather” as a symbol of corruption
The detention of “Grandfather” has been compared to the arrest of Al Capone. He has become a symbol of systemic corruption at Ukrzaliznytsia. Sources say that the detention of this figure was made possible by numerous testimonies from affected employees.
“This is a great success. Finally, the company’s management has decided to take the step that has been expected for years,” said an anonymous UZ employee. In turn, an anonymous Telegram channel covering corruption scandals named Ded as the main organiser of blackmail and extortion.
The searches and detentions at Ukrzaliznytsia demonstrate that the fight against corruption in Ukraine is gaining momentum. The detention of Ded was a landmark event that opens a new page in the company’s history and gives hope for systemic cleansing.
