13 November 2026, 14:21
The Odessa Zoo has denied selling a crocodile to businessman Sokolov
Ця стаття також доступна українською
A crocodile from Vladislav Sokolov's house. SCREENSHOT: Serhiy Sternenko/X
The Odessa Zoo has dismissed as false a statement by businessman Vladislav Sokolov regarding the alleged official purchase of a crocodile for $2,500. Zoo staff stated that they do not sell animals to private individuals and have not sold any reptiles in the last 15 years.
This was reported bySlidstvo.Info, citing a statement from the Odessa Zoo.
The zoo noted that it does not know why the businessman singled out their facility.
“That’s not true. The zoo hasn’t sold any crocodiles in the last 15–16 years. He must have bought it from some other zoo; I don’t know why he’s mentioning the Odesa Zoo. We are currently preparing an official response on this matter to the military administration and the Department of Culture,” explained a zoo employee.
The zoo also noted that sales are only permitted between licensed zoos, particularly those that are members of the association. Under such conditions, animals may be transferred for temporary care or exchanged for another animal.
Read also:50 yachts and boats foundin Odesa to circumvent lease requirements
Earlier, law enforcement officers searched the penthouse of businessman Vladislav Sokolov as part of an investigation into the embezzlement of budget funds allocated for the construction of defensive structures at energy facilities in the Kyiv region. Photos from the scene showed, among other things, a terrarium with a live crocodile.
The situation sparked discussion on social media. In response, Sokolov recorded a video in which he stated that he had officially purchased the crocodile from the Odesa Zoo for $2,500.
Vladislav Sokolov is a 47-year-old businessman from Dnipro. Law enforcement officials conducted searches at his residence as part of an investigation into the possible embezzlement of public funds during the construction of protective structures for energy facilities and school shelters in the Kyiv region.
According to the investigation, companies linked to the businessman supplied metal products under 25 government contracts worth 1.89 billion hryvnias, with prices likely inflated by 20.8 million hryvnias. Separately, the police are investigating the embezzlement of 129 million hryvnias related to the protection of energy infrastructure.
Investigators are also examining Sokolov’s involvement in the failure to fulfill the terms of contracts for the construction of school shelters.
