Deputy Head of the BES in Odesa remains in jail

In Odesa, the court extended the arrest of the deputy head of the Territorial Department of the BES in the region, who is suspected of cooperating with the Russian occupation administration in Luhansk region and assisting the aggressor state.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations with reference to the decision of the Peresypskyi District Court.

According to the investigation, the official has been associated with Luhansk-based Ukrmetinvestbud LLC for many years. After the occupation of part of the region, he again became a co-founder of the company, and in November 2023 he personally signed documents that transferred the company to Russian jurisdiction, changed its charter and name to Metinveststro LLC." The company operates in the occupied territory, and its taxes, according to investigators, replenish the budgets of the Russian Federation and finance the war.

The investigation also found that the company conducted public fundraising for the Russian military through a website that posted links to resources for raising money for the Russian army.

On October 9, 2025, the official was notified of suspicion of aiding the aggressor state. The court extended the detention until February 2, 2026, without bail, given the risks of pressure on witnesses, escape or destruction of evidence. The defense objected, arguing that the suspicion was unfounded, and that the defendant was a mobilized soldier who had not been in the occupied territory since 2014.

As the Anti-Corruption Center "Border" found out, it is Oleh Skupinsky. The journalists found that he and his wife live in an apartment in the Odesa residential complex "45 Zhemchuzhyna" worth about UAH 15 million, registered in the name of his mother-in-law. Also, according to the official's declaration, the family owns two expensive cars - a Volkswagen Touareg and a Lexus NX 250 - and declares more than $170,000 in cash. At the same time, in 2024, Skupinsky received social payments as an IDP and state cashback.

Also, the head of the Odesa Dolphinarium was notified of suspicion for unauthorized development of the territory of Lanzheron Beach. A whole complex of buildings appeared on the site, including swimming pools, bars, playgrounds and food courts, surrounded by stone structures and metal fencing. The court imposed a measure of restraint on the suspect in the form of house arrest until January 26, 2026.

Анна Бальчінос