The “Supervisor” Kulyk and Pahnytsia’s Legacy: How in Poltava region the SBU (BEB) is Trying to “Fix” Corruption Flows

The “Supervisor” Kulyk and Pahnytsia’s legacy: how in Poltava region BEB is once again trying to “fix” corruption flows.

That’s what the media are reporting.

Around the Poltava regional BEB unit, tension is rising again. According to media reports, local schemers are trying to preserve control over corruption channels. Yuriy Kulyk, whom local outlets call the “watchman” in the region, is undergoing re-certification. After spring publications in the media, he was forced to retake the exam, but sources claim there are attempts to “settle” the matter to maintain influence over financial schemes.

After the high-profile dismissal of Oleh Pahnytsia (order dated 26 December 2025 ), the Poltava territorial BEB administration has not returned to full operation. Companies connected with Pahnytsia signed contracts worth almost 2 billion UAH, and the head himself ensured protection for his business group from inspections and investigations. Local entrepreneurs believe that only the nameplate changed: the “cashiers” continue to operate under the old schemes. In Pahnytsia’s place came Yuriy Kulyk, who, in their words, inherited the previous flows and methods.

From the region, sources report that inspections initiated by the capital’s law enforcement agencies revealed violations precisely at the companies tied to Kulyk’s “feeding base.” The region’s fuel and energy sector, in their view, remains under the influence of corruption schemes laid down as far back as Pahnytsia. While Kulyk was undergoing re-certification and was outside the circle of influence, the first inspection uncovered serious violations, notably at the aforementioned “Promsvyaz-SV.” Cash was seized from the defendants in tens of millions of hryvnias.

The Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police conducted 20 searches. In Kremenchuk and Svitlovodsk, documents were seized, and in private homes of company leaders connected with Pahnytsia and Kulyk, more than 2 million UAH in cash was found in one defendant and more than 18 million UAH in another. According to investigators, these funds could have formed part of daily settlements for the schemes.

Thus, the report that the Poltava BEB only changed its storefront has been confirmed. “Nothing changed, only the surname — now Kulyk is the head. This isn’t a reform, but a continuation of ‘whitewashing.’ The watchdog from Pahnytsia, only with threats to tear apart everyone,” local entrepreneurs quoted the media as saying. In private conversations, Kulyk allegedly says that soon he will take a leadership post and then “everyone will be in,” even those who didn’t “dance” to Pahnytsia.

Earlier, the public was outraged by Pahnytsia’s declaration: 6,5 million dollars in cash, a Socata TB 20 GT personal plane (registered to the agrofirm “Progress”), over 3000 hectares of land, dozens of parcels, 415 million square meters of commercial real estate, dozens of apartments, 15 parking spaces, luxury cars Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q7, Multivan, and also over 20 trucks DAF/SCANIA/MAN, agricultural business and dozens of LLCs, registered to his wife, companies in Poland and Romania, millions in accounts and loans. This is only the official declaration of a official fighting corruption. He was dismissed, Kulyk came in, whose declaration also looks “normal.” The situation with the fuel market and counterfeiting, according to sources, remained the same.

Now, however, there is a reaction: external law enforcement checks are underway, Kulyk’s re-certification continues. It has also become known that acts of abuse can be directed to the Commission for Re-certification via email.

Will it be a sitting or the “watchman” from Pahnytsia? Here is a screenshot from GetContact showing how Kulyk is listed among colleagues and entrepreneurs. The head of BEB Ukraine, Oleksandr Tsyvinsky, must respond so that such frames do not discredit the Bureau of Economic Security.