Scheme with conscripts in Kherson leads to arrest of ex-deputy from Odesa region

In Mykolaiv, the court allowed the director of a charity foundation and a former deputy from Odesa region, who is suspected of organizing the illegal departure of conscripts from Kherson region abroad, to be taken into custody.

As the Center for Public Investigations found out, he is the head of the Ajalyk Charitable Foundation, registered in the village of Vyzyrka, Odesa region.

Letters and forged documents

According to the investigation, the man registered conscripts as drivers of humanitarian cargo so that they could legally cross the border and not return to Ukraine. Investigators found that he sent letters to the Kherson Regional Military Administration with lists of men who were allegedly involved in the delivery of humanitarian aid to EU countries, including Poland, Austria, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

Based on one of these appeals, in May 2023, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration signed an order allowing several persons liable for military service to temporarily leave Ukraine. However, according to the investigation, the director of the fund provided false information about the purpose of the trip. Some of the men crossed the border through the Mayaky-Udobne and Hrushev checkpoints and never returned to Ukraine.

SCREEN SHOT: YouControl

The investigation also documented several other letters with proposals to include new drivers of humanitarian cargo, in particular for departure through the Orlivka checkpoint. One of the witnesses in the case stated that he had never been a volunteer and had nothing to do with charitable activities, and his documents were used to enter him into the Shlyakh system.

In October 2025, the man was notified of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 332 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine - illegal transportation of persons across the state border. At that time, he was already hiding outside the country and was put on the international wanted list. The court granted the investigators' request and imposed a custodial measure of restraint.

Biography and participation in anti-Euromaidan protests

According to YouControl, the director and founder of the Ajalyk Foundation is Serhiy Kryvenko. This is not the first criminal case against him. In February 2025, he was put on the wanted list on suspicion of misappropriating charitable funds that were allegedly collected for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The investigation believes that in nine months he received more than UAH 5 million in donations, of which he embezzled more than UAH 3 million.

SCREEN SHOT: myrotvorets.center

Kryvenko had experience in law enforcement, was a former deputy of a local council in Odesa region and headed a branch of the Party of Regions. According to the Myrotvorets resource, he is considered a looter and an accomplice of the Russian occupiers. He used his official position to enrich himself during the war, undermined Ukraine's defense capabilities, discredited the authorities and supported pro-Russian political forces. In 2013-2014, he participated in violent confrontations with pro-European activists.

Property and income of the former MP

According to the 2020 declaration, Serhii Kryvenko worked as a deputy of the Lyman District Council of the 7th convocation (2017-2020) and lived with his wife Olena and two sons. He owned real estate in Ivanove, Lyman district, Odesa region - a sewing shop (84 m²), a dairy (94 m²), a fire station (98 m²) and an unfinished feed warehouse with an area of more than 1,100 m². His wife had a land plot in the village of Liubopil (912 m²).

Among his movable property, the former official declared Swiss Breguet watches, cars and trucks, an Azura motor boat and a carriage trailer, while his wife declared an Audi Q7 and a Cadillac Escalade.

SCREENSHOT: YouControl

As the Center for Public Investigations wrote, in July 2022, Kryvenko sent letters to entrepreneurs calling for donations for ammunition for the Ukrainian military, but appropriated a significant portion of the funds for himself.

It was established that in nine months he received more than UAH 5 million in donations, of which he took possession of UAH 3.3 million. He was served a notice of suspicion in this case, which provides for up to 7 years in prison.

Kryvenko is a 100% owner of the Ajalyk Charitable Foundation. In 2020, he received UAH 924.8 thousand in business income, lent UAH 860 thousand to third parties, had UAH 155 thousand and EUR 5 thousand in cash, and had over UAH 11 thousand in his accounts. His financial obligations included a loan of over UAH 316 thousand and an insurance payment of UAH 6.6 thousand to his wife.

Despite the criminal proceedings, the Ajalyk Charitable Foundation formally continues to operate. At the end of 2025, a Mykolaiv court also allowed investigators to access documents at a checkpoint in Lviv region as part of the same investigation.

Анна Бальчінос