Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Trade in the tissues of the deceased through exchange offices of the "Kit Group": in Chernivtsi a large scheme by forensic pathologists uncovered
The scheme of illegal trade in tissues of the deceased in the Chernivtsi regional morgue operated through the network of exchange offices "Kit Group."
According to investigators, the general director of the Chernivtsi Oblast Communal Forensic Pathology Bureau, Dmytro Hrechko, created a scheme for taking tissues from the deceased. The bureau did not have a license to operate a tissue bank and was not entered in the state registry of transplant operators. The investigation is being conducted under part 5 of art. 143 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal trade in human anatomical materials).
In 2024–2025 years, contracts were concluded between the bureau and the Kyiv company "Probones" (director Olena Tonkonoh, owner Andriy Barkunov) for the provision of services for removing anatomical materials for the production of bio-implants.
"Probones" positions itself as a producer of allo-graphs (bone and soft tissues) and claims to be the first Ukrainian enterprise manufacturing such materials from donor human material.
The investigation believes that activities significantly exceeded official contracts. Forensic pathologists were illegally appointed as transplant coordinators (this position is incompatible with the work of a forensic pathologist). Teams were formed to remove tissues. In several cases materials were taken even against the wishes of relatives, employing manipulations and concealing the commercial nature of the actions. Removed tissues (supporting-motor apparatus, skin fragments, etc.) were handed over to "Probones" and other persons.
Role of the “Kit Group”
Funds for anatomical materials were handed to the bureau staff in cash through the "KIT Group" exchange network (Liberty Finance). This is a company of the Tkachenko family, which operated under the cover of MP Oleksandr Bakumov and had close ties with the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine.
After that, funds were distributed among the bureau head, forensic pathologists, and a technician who performed courier functions and organized the shipment of materials, including by rail. According to preliminary data from the investigation, from March to July, participants in the scheme received no less than 190 thousand hryvnias of illicit profit.
"KIT Group" — one of the largest money exchange networks in Ukraine. The company positions itself as a fintech platform and has about 90–98 branches in almost 30 cities, including Chernivtsi. In March 2026 the National Bank of Ukraine revoked licenses of a financial company affiliated with the network due to identified facts of illegal financial activity and dubious business reputation.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Торгівля тканинами померлих через обмінники "Кит Груп": у Чернівцях викрили масштабну схему патологоанатомів". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: ANTIKOR.