Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Valeriy Pustovoytenko Loses Nearly 7 Million Hryvnias in Elaborate Scam

Deception Targeting Valeriy Pustovoytenko

According to Главком: Fraudsters posing as officers from the Security Service of Ukraine and the national police have swindled Valeriy Pustovoytenko, the country's sixth prime minister, out of more than 6.7 million hryvnias. The 79-year-old politician was tricked into handing over cash in multiple currencies after receiving fake subpoenas and being falsely accused of purchasing 'Shahed' drones for the aggressor's army, according to investigators.

Pustovoytenko, who once led Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers, surrendered funds including $110,710 USD, €10,200 EUR, as well as savings in Israeli shekels, British pounds, and Czech korunas. The dollars and euros were later transferred to a cryptocurrency account controlled by the scheme's mastermind. A currency exchange office refused to accept the remaining foreign banknotes.

Law enforcement has charged two accomplices under Article 190, Part 5 of Ukraine's Criminal Code. They remain in custody, with bail set at 4.9 million hryvnias and 3.3 million hryvnias respectively. During a search of one suspect's vehicle, authorities seized the cash that had been rejected by the exchange office.

Valeriy Pustovoytenko's Background

Who is Valeriy Pustovoytenko? Born into a family of collective farm workers, he graduated from Odesa Vocational School No. 9 before studying at Odesa Polytechnic Institute and Dnipro State Technical University of Construction and Architecture, where he earned a doctorate in engineering. Over his career, he held several key positions, including:

• Manager of the trust 'DniproBudMechanizatsia,'
• Chairman of the executive committee of the Babushkinsky District Council in Dnipro,
• Deputy chairman of the executive committee of the Dnipropetrovsk City Council.

In March 1990, he was elected as a people's deputy of Ukraine. From April to September 1993, he served as Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers. Subsequently, from October 1993 to July 1994, he worked as deputy head of the credit-financial union 'Expobank,' and from July 1994 to July 1997, he again held the post of Minister of the Cabinet. From July 16, 1997, to December 22, 1999, he served as Prime Minister of Ukraine, leading the Cabinet under President Leonid Kuchma. After Kuchma's second inauguration on November 30, 1999, Pustovoytenko's government resigned.

Additionally, from July 1996 to August 2000, he headed the Football Federation of Ukraine, and from May 1999 to May 2006, he chaired the People's Democratic Party. From June 9, 2001, to April 30, 2002, he acted as Minister of Transport of Ukraine, and from 2002 to 2006, he served as a people's deputy. In May 2006, he became deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration, and from April 9, 2010, to February 24, 2014, he worked as an advisor to the President of Ukraine.

This incident highlights the persistent threat of fraud in Ukraine, which can ensnare even high-profile public figures. Scammers rely on manipulation and deceit to extract large sums of money, demonstrating their sophistication and organization. That a former prime minister like Valeriy Pustovoytenko fell victim to such a crime raises serious concerns about the security of personal information and finances, even for those in elevated positions.

This incident is part of a troubling trend where vulnerable individuals are targeted by sophisticated scams. For instance, another elderly victim recently fell prey to fraudsters impersonating officials from Ukraine's Security Service, losing a significant sum. To learn more about this alarming situation and its implications, read about the similar case involving an elderly victim.