Ukraine police chiefs in three oblasts arrested for taking bribes to shield illegal pornography studios

The law enforcers uncovered a bribery scheme in which senior regional police commanders in three oblasts allegedly accepted monthly payments to protect studios producing and distributing illegal erotic and pornographic content online.

The following individuals were detained:

• The chief of the National Police main directorate in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
• The deputy chief of the National Police main directorate in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
• The first deputy chief of the National Police main directorate in Ternopil Oblast
• The deputy chief of the National Police main directorate in Zhytomyr Oblast
• A driver at the Interior Ministry's Unit Service Center, who acted as an intermediary and courier in the scheme

According to investigators, the go-between was a driver for one of Ukraine's deputy interior ministers.

According to the investigation, the leadership of territorial police units in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, and Zhytomyr oblasts could have covered up the activities of models who illegally created and distributed erotic and pornographic videos online.

Investigative actions are being conducted in the three main departments of the National Police, as previously reported by Advisor to the Minister of Defense Serhiy Sternenko.

He used his connections within National Police leadership to arrange protection agreements with senior officials, ensuring they would not interfere with the studios' operations and would provide advance warning of any potential inspections.

Participants used coded language, communicated through encrypted messaging apps and discussed details of their arrangements privately to conceal the scheme.

Regional police leadership received $20,000 per month, while the intermediary kept $5,000 for himself.

According to investigators, in February 2026 the intermediary received $45,000 — part of which went to police leadership in one of the oblasts and part to himself. In April 2026 he received an additional $25,000, of which $20,000 was to be passed to a deputy chief of one of the regional police directorates, with the remainder kept by the intermediary.

On May 20, the intermediary was detained after receiving another $25,000 installment, $20,000 of which was intended for a regional police chief.

One law enforcement officer has so far been formally charged under Part 4 of Article Receipt by a public official in a position of responsibility of an unlawful benefit of an especially large amount in exchange for refraining from taking action, using his or her official position, committed by a group of persons acting in concert368 of Ukraine's Criminal Code, which covers aggravated bribery.

The National Police of Ukraine commented on the detentions of regional heads, saying it would continue to facilitate an objective and impartial investigation "regarding everyone who violated the law, regardless of rank or position."

"The National Police of Ukraine emphasizes: purging the system of dishonest officers is an unconditional priority," the agency said in a statement.