Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration Prokopov served suspicion notice: linked to scheme helping draft dodgers flee abroad

Law enforcement authorities have named Kyiv City State Administration Deputy Head Volodymyr Prokopiv as a suspect.

According to investigators, the official is believed to be involved in organizing illegal schemes for smuggling Ukrainian citizens — specifically those avoiding mobilization — into European countries.

As reported by Ukrainian media, investigative actions have established that Prokopiv may have been one of the organizers of illegal border-crossing channels for men of conscription age. While details of the scheme have not yet been made public, it is known that the investigation is being conducted with the involvement of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Office of the Prosecutor General.

This is not the first time Volodymyr Prokopiv has been mentioned in connection with possible legal violations. In October 2024, his name surfaced in a corruption scandal, when investigative journalists published information about a large amount of luxury real estate registered under the names of his family members. These included apartments, houses, and commercial properties — the origins of which raised serious questions.

According to Bihus.Info, as early as 2024, journalists reported that Prokopiv’s family owned a significant amount of real estate, as well as cars and considerable financial assets. Notably, Prokopiv already entered politics as a wealthy man — coming to the Kyiv City Council from business and having long worked as an aide to various Members of Parliament, including Petro Poroshenko.

“He entered the political elite as a man of means: owning a house, an apartment in the capital, new cars, and sizable bank accounts. However, it was during his 10 years in leadership positions that his and his family’s assets skyrocketed,” one investigative report stated.

Volodymyr Prokopiv has played an active role in Kyiv politics since 2014. He was elected to the Kyiv City Council, chaired the land commission in 2014–2015, and served as council secretary from 2015 to 2019. Since 2021, he has been the Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration for Self-Governance Affairs.

The investigation is ongoing, and final conclusions will be drawn following pre-trial proceedings. If found guilty, the official could face serious criminal charges.