Ukraine's Economic Security Bureau Seizes $1.3 Billion in Vapes, Exposing Shadow Trade Scheme

Ukraine's Economic Security Bureau Investigates Illegal Vape Trade

According to Главком: The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine (ESBU) is conducting a major investigation into the illicit trade of electronic cigarettes and vaping liquids. In 2025 alone, the ESBU sent 51 criminal proceedings to court, with the total value of seized assets reaching 1.3 billion Ukrainian hryvnias. The probe specifically examines the activities of the Vandal store network in Vinnytsia and the company Vinlight Group LLC. The crackdown highlights the significant tax revenue losses governments face from unregulated vaping markets.

Massive Product Seizures and Asset Freezes

During raids in 2025, the ESBU confiscated a vast quantity of goods, including:

• 6,931,944 bottles of e-cigarette liquid;
• 59,374 electronic cigarettes;
• 8,778 liters of glycerin in canisters;
• 4,754 liters of nicotine in canisters.

Law enforcement alleges that Vinlight Group LLC supplied Vandal stores with excisable goods sold off the official books. This company reportedly enlisted individual entrepreneurs working at Vandal stores to sell unlicensed, excisable products.

Since December 2025, courts have issued 15 rulings to freeze the assets seized during the Vandal raids. The Vinnytsia City Court authorized the asset freeze, underscoring the case's severity. As of February 16, 2026, ESBU detectives continue their investigation into the Vandal case. The owner of Vinlight Group LLC is Maryna Pivovar, who also holds stakes in other companies, including Vape Hub LLC, Cherikom LLC, Turn Group LLC, and Intera Corp LLC. The designated head of Vinlight Group LLC is Dmytro Darevych.

Ongoing Investigations and Related Cases

In a separate but related case, an investigation into the Vape Hub network began in Lviv in 2023. Until September 2023, Vape Hub belonged to Yaroslav Vozniuk. In 2023, ownership transferred to the Cypriot companies C.S. Capital Shield Ltd and Brightshield Ltd. The current director of Vape Hub is Oleksii Baranovskyi. Sellers from the Vape Hub network have faced charges for selling goods without excise stamps.

Furthermore, a criminal proceeding regarding the Vandal network was initiated in the summer of 2023. The accused in this case are Vira Pron, Andrii Kostiv, Mariia Haliuk, Yurii Mazur, Nataliia Onysikiv, and Oleksandr Kurach. Their trial has been ongoing since November 2024 in the Ternopil City District Court. In the summer of 2025, the ESBU also conducted searches and seized goods from the Uvape network stores in Kyiv.

Given the growing problem of illegal e-cigarette circulation in Ukraine, the ESBU's work to investigate and prosecute offenders is of particular importance.

The seizure of such a large volume of goods and the freezing of assets demonstrate the seriousness of the situation and law enforcement's intent to dismantle the shadow market. These measures are likely to have a significant impact on Ukraine's e-cigarette market and future regulatory policy for excisable goods.