Corruption Scandal Leads to Dismissal of Khmelnytskyi Police Chief

Ruslan Herasymchuk Removed from Post

According to Главком: Ruslan Herasymchuk is no longer the head of the Main Department of the National Police in the Khmelnytskyi region. This was confirmed by Yulia Hirdvilis, a spokesperson for the National Police of Ukraine. Herasymchuk, who had led the department since July 2020, held the position for nearly six years. Previously, he served as deputy head of the regional police department.

Herasymchuk's removal follows the exposure of illegal activities by officers in regional police units, which involved serious corruption schemes. The Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office detained five individuals implicated in the case. Those detained include:

• Serhiy Bezpalko, head of the National Police in the Ivano-Frankivsk region,
• Volodymyr Yatsiuk, deputy head of the same department,
• Andriy Tkachyk, first deputy head of the National Police in the Ternopil region,
• Illia Hulevatyi, deputy head of the National Police in the Zhytomyr region,
• A driver from the state enterprise 'Center for Servicing Ministry of Internal Affairs Units,' who acted as an intermediary.

During searches, authorities seized a fleet of six luxury vehicles, five Swiss watches, firearms and cold weapons, mobile phones, and cash totaling over 22.6 million hryvnias. The leadership of the National Police has already suspended the officials involved in this case. The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the dismissal of the driver from the 'Center for Servicing Ministry of Internal Affairs Units.'

Corruption Scheme and Its Aftermath

A court has imposed preventive measures on the five participants in the corruption scheme, which involved covering up a network of 'pornography offices.' Yulia Hirdvilis noted that

“I cannot comment on the decision of the head, but a new leader of the department will be introduced soon.”

The removal of Ruslan Herasymchuk signals an intensified crackdown on corruption within Ukraine's law enforcement agencies. The exposure of major corruption schemes and the detention of high-ranking officials demonstrate efforts to purge corrupt elements from the police ranks. This situation could significantly impact public trust in the police and their ability to effectively carry out their duties.

The recent dismissal of Khmelnytskyi's police chief is part of a broader crackdown on corruption within the National Police. This follows the suspension of several senior officials linked to bribery investigations, highlighting a significant effort to address illegal activities in law enforcement. For further details on the assets seized and the ongoing investigations, see the latest report on the bribery probe.