Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
84 millions for a nonworking system and luxury assets: what is known about the property and business of former deputy minister Oleksandr Bornyakov
Oleksandr Bornyakov worked at the Ministry of Digital Transformation for over six years, served as acting minister for several months, and after his dismissal headed the supervisory board of the Innovation Development Fund. At the same time, his declarations list an apartment of 325,6 sq. m in Kyiv’s "Tsarske Selo", a premium Mercedes, a Ducati, and one hectare of land in Sevastopol, while the family’s business circle is linked to Cypriot structures and a number of criminal proceedings. Against the background of an unsatisfactory assessment of Bornyakov’s work by a parliamentary committee and the scandal around the online gambling monitoring system worth 84,2 million UAH, questions arise about his activities, assets, and continued influence over state projects.
This is reported by "StopKor."
It often happens in Ukraine that an official leaves one influential state post and almost immediately receives another. And this is despite open questions about that official’s effectiveness. That is what happened with Oleksandr Bornyakov, who worked at the Ministry of Digital Transformation for over six years and even served as its acting head for several months. After his dismissal he headed the supervisory board of the Innovation Development Fund — a structure responsible, among other things, for supporting defense technologies.
And, as you may have already guessed, there are questions about Bornyakov’s effectiveness in his previous post. The parliamentary committee itself, as "368. media" wrote, deemed his performance as acting minister unsatisfactory due to problems launching the online gambling business monitoring system. 84,2 million hryvnias were spent on the innovation, yet it never fully started working.
But the results of his work are only a small part of this multifaceted story. Bornyakov’s declarations list an apartment of more than 325 sq. m in the capital complex "Tsarske Selo", two parking spaces, a Mercedes‑Benz, a Ducati motorcycle, and ten land plots in Sevastopol. His wife, formerly "Miss Ukraine Universe 2022", declared jewelry, watches and bags by Rolex, Cartier, Tiffany, Bulgari and Chanel with a total value of nearly 2,9 million UAH.
The official’s business circle also raises questions. Companies linked to his family, registered through Cypriot structures, appear in criminal proceedings, and their history shows transactions with Russian counterparties and people who continued doing business in occupied Crimea. What of this is confirmed by documents and what remains a hypothesis — we examine below.
From an Odesa businessman to a system person
Before telling the dubious stories and about the expensive assets, it is worth understanding how Oleksandr Bornyakov gained influence over the state’s key digital projects.
He started his career in the private sector: he founded the IT company SoftTechnics, the digital advertising platform VertaMedia, and was involved with Clickky and the business incubator WannaBiz. By the way, an interesting point about LLC "SOFT TECHNICS": Bornyakov is now only a historical participant, meaning he stepped away from the company long ago. However, the company’s founders include the British offshore INTERSOG LLP, whose owner in the registry was the Belize offshore BOSFOR VENTURES LTD. According to Bornyakov’s declaration, he is the owner of that Belize offshore. This raises the logical question of whether, despite officially leaving the list of participants, Oleksandr Bornyakov could have continued to own the assets.
Bornyakov did not work only in IT; he was connected with companies in real estate, car rental, trade, and agribusiness. Later some of these assets ended up owned by his brothers and Cypriot companies — details we will explain a bit later, including about the agricultural sector.
In 2015 Bornyakov was elected a deputy of the Odesa City Council from Samopomich, where he chaired the commission on economic and investment policy. And in 2019 he became deputy minister of digital transformation and took charge of "Diia.City", uResidency, development of artificial intelligence, the crypto industry and startups. He also coordinated the work of the defense cluster Brave1.
In January 2026 Bornyakov began serving as acting minister, but in July the government dismissed him. Before that, the relevant parliamentary committee had judged his work unsatisfactory.
Where did 84 million go?
One of the most telling episodes of Oleksandr Bornyakov’s tenure was the launch of the State online gambling monitoring system. It was supposed to provide state control over the operation of the legal gambling business, but it never fully came online.
As we wrote earlier, 84,2 million UAH were spent on creating the system. At least 23,77 million UAH may have been used without producing the expected result. The story drew the attention of the Office of the Prosecutor General.
Complaints also arose at the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada. As 368.media reported, deputies recognized the work of then‑acting Minister of Digital Transformation Oleksandr Bornyakov and PlayCity head Hennadii Novikov as unsatisfactory. The reasons were failure to implement recommendations of the Accounting Chamber and problems with launching the system.
The committee recommended considering personnel decisions for the officials responsible. Novikov soon resigned, and Bornyakov was dismissed from the post of first deputy minister. However, a month later he headed the supervisory board of the Innovation Development Fund, retaining influence over strategic state projects.
People Bornyakov brought in
During Oleksandr Bornyakov’s time at the Ministry of Digital Transformation, several people connected to his previous business and political circle received government positions.
One of them is Hennadii Novikov, who in 2019 worked concurrently at PP "Alfin", associated with Bornyakov’s family, and was at the same time a specialist at the Ministry of Digital Transformation. Later Novikov headed the state agency PlayCity, created to regulate gambling. His work in that position was deemed unsatisfactory and he was dismissed. Earlier he had also worked in the Biliaivka district organization of Samopomich — the party from which Bornyakov was elected in Odesa.
Another example is Denys Maiboroda, whom the media call Bornyakov’s lawyer. Later he became head of "Diia." According to Antikor, Maiboroda was also linked to transactions around assets of Odesa mayor Hennadii Trukhanov.
Another personnel overlap concerns Oleksandr Kompaniiets, who in 2021 headed the Department of Digital Economy at the Ministry of Digital Transformation and now works in the Foreign Ministry system. His father‑in‑law Hryhorii Begei has run the same PP "Alfin" since 2016 — a company owned by the Cypriot offshore EPICA ASSETS PUBLIC COMPANY LIMITED, which is currently owned by Bornyakov’s brother Yurii Bornyakov. By the way, Oleksandr Bornyakov is a historical participant in PP "Alfin" at least until 2019.
Who he left the business to
After Oleksandr Bornyakov moved into public service, part of the business linked to him remained within the family circle. A key figure became his brother Yurii Bornyakov, who is now indicated as the beneficiary of a number of companies, including "Logistic Invest Center", "Profi Odesa", "Art Studio Druku", "UIK", "Shapa‑Group", "AGV Plus" and PP "Alfin".
A significant part of these enterprises is connected to the Cypriot companies Epica Assets Public Company Limited and Hespain Investments Ltd, whose beneficiary is also listed as Yurii Bornyakov. At the same time, some of these assets earlier belonged to or were directly connected with Oleksandr Bornyakov himself.
In particular, in 2020 the official declared 1,3 million UAH of income from the disposal of an offshore company. After that the asset remained within the interest sphere of his family. In addition, some companies from this family business group appear in criminal proceedings. Thus, LLC "Profi Odesa", whose beneficiary is Yurii Bornyakov, figures in an NABU case concerning the possible unlawful transfer of communal real estate in Odesa to private companies in 2015–2017 without required contests and auctions.
PP "Alfin" figures in a 2024 proceeding regarding alleged fictitious disposal of hazardous medical waste. Searches were carried out in premises on a land plot the company leases from the Odesa community and which was used by "Ukrekomprom." Earlier "Alfin" was also involved in a case concerning privatization of a building on Admiralskyi Avenue in Odesa. Law enforcement tried to place a seizure on it, but company representatives insisted on the legality of the acquisition. Ultimately the court lifted the seizure and refused to reimpose it.
Russian episodes of the connected business
There are several Russian‑related episodes in the history of companies linked to Oleksandr Bornyakov and his family. However, this is not direct proven participation by Bornyakov in processes connected with Russia, but a series of coincidences recorded in the activities of companies to which he was related in one way or another.
For example, among former participants of Bornyakov’s venture LLC "Soft Technics", in 2012–2015 years was Henrikh Agadzhanyan. Today, according to Russian registries, this man does business in IT in occupied Sevastopol and pays taxes to the Russian Federation budget.
Another episode involves LLC "Vivatum UA", which in 2014 imported goods from Russia. Bornyakov’s brother Dmytro became a participant in the company in 2015 — after these operations. The company’s director Ruslan Merzliakov is included in the Myrotvorets database, and according to the data there he systematically crossed the border with the Russian Federation in 2016–2019 years.
PP "Alfin" also cooperated with Russian enterprises. For example, in May 2014 it purchased lighting equipment from the Russian LLC "Export Rus" — already after the start of the occupation of Crimea. However, it is worth noting that the officially known period of Oleksandr Bornyakov’s participation in the company begins only in 2016.
There are separate questions about Bornyakov’s ten land plots totaling one hectare in the Balaklava district of Sevastopol. He acquired them on 29 January 2014 — before the start of the occupation. It remains unknown whether this land was re‑registered under Russian law and whether taxes are paid to the occupying authorities.
The apartment of 325 "square meters", land in Crimea, and the question of the source of funds
The largest declared asset of Oleksandr Bornyakov is a six‑room apartment of 325,6 sq. m in the capital complex "Tsarske Selo" in the Pechersk district. He bought it in August 2020 for 12,06 million UAH.
In the same building the official has a nonresidential premise of 5,9 sq. m valued at 82,2 thousand UAH and two parking spaces purchased for 232,5 thousand and 630 thousand UAH.
Bornyakov also owns ten land plots in the Balaklava district of Sevastopol:
8536300000:58:002:1***, 8536300000:58:002:1***, 8536300000:58:002:1***, 8536300000:58:002:1***, 8536300000:58:002:1***, 8536300000:58:002:1***, 8536300000:58:002:1***, 8536300000:58:002:1***, 8536300000:58:002:1***, 8536300000:58:002:1***.
Each plot is 0,1 ha, so in total the official owns one hectare of Crimean land. He acquired the plots on 29 January 2014 — on the eve of the peninsula’s occupation. Their combined cost at the time of acquisition was 864 thousand UAH.
Among Bornyakov’s vehicles is a Mercedes‑Benz GLS 400 D 4MATIC 2019 year, bought for 3,06 million UAH, and a Ducati Diavel Carbon motorcycle worth 745,3 thousand UAH.
He also declared a Ulysse Nardin watch, but did not indicate its value.
However, the approximate total declared value of these assets, excluding the watch, at the dates of acquisition is at least 17,68 million UAH.
Bornyakov’s declarations also show significant proceeds from the sale of property and corporate rights. In 2019, according to his financial and property reports, he received 1,7 million UAH from his brother Dmytro for the disposal of real estate and another 1,04 million UAH from the sale of movable property to Viktor Kutsaryev. In 2020 the official declared 1,3 million UAH from the disposal of an offshore company. Earlier he also received 135 thousand UAH from the sale of corporate rights.
Another notable financial episode is a loan to Oleksandr Moskalenko of up to 4,66 million UAH. According to declarations, the debtor repaid these funds in parts during 2019–2023. The very fact of making such a loan indicates that Bornyakov had significant funds at his disposal even before buying the capital apartment.
Media separately reported possible undeclared incomes of the official. According to Antikor, law enforcement allegedly seized documents on Bornyakov’s cryptocurrency, investment and other financial operations worth over 2 billion UAH in 2021–2024. The outlet also wrote about accounts at Interactive Brokers and Citibank with turnovers of about 41 million pounds sterling — against 16,24 million UAH of officially declared income.
The publication my.ua, citing an NACP check, also reported allegedly "extra" 11 million UAH that disappeared from the declaration after verification. At the time of preparing this material, no official suspicions against Bornyakov related to these claims had been announced.
Rolex, Cartier and Chanel for the wife at the price of an apartment
The official’s current wife, Viktoriia Bornyakova, who, by the way, became Miss Ukraine Universe in 2022, declared a collection of jewelry, watches and luxury accessories with a total value of 2 879 781 UAH.
It includes Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, Rolex Lady‑Datejust and Bulgari Serpenti Tubogas watches, a Cartier ring and two Cartier bracelets, a Tiffany & Co pendant and a Chanel bag.
The most expensive item is the Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, declared at 608,9 thousand UAH. Another Rolex Lady‑Datejust cost 503 thousand UAH.
The Cartier ring owned by Bornyakov’s wife cost 424 thousand UAH.
By rough estimates, the total value of Viktoriia Bornyakova’s collection at the dates of acquisition was about 64–65 thousand US dollars. For that money one could buy a premium‑class car or an apartment on the secondary market in the capital.
At the same time, Viktoriia Bornyakova does not own separate real estate in Kyiv: she uses her husband’s apartment in "Tsarske Selo", as confirmed by photos on her social networks, and owns 25% of an old residential‑fund apartment in Chernihiv.
So what’s the conclusion?
This story is far from being only about a six‑room apartment in Pechersk, a hectare of land in occupied Crimea, premium vehicles and his wife’s nearly three‑million collection of accessories. Above all, it is about an official who, after over six years at the Ministry of Digital Transformation and an unsatisfactory assessment from a parliamentary committee, did not leave the state orbit but almost immediately received another influential post.
Documents show the Bornyakov family’s extensive business ties, the involvement of related companies in criminal proceedings, past transactions with Russian counterparties, and substantial declared assets of the official himself. At the same time, some of the most sensational claims — in particular about billion‑hryvnia financial operations and foreign accounts — remain information from individual media outlets and have not resulted in an official suspicion.
But key questions remain. Who will be held accountable for the online gambling monitoring system that received 84,2 million UAH but never fully started working? Did Bornyakov retain influence over assets that after his move to public service ended up within the family’s business network? And did authorized bodies check the origin of the funds that made it possible to form such a large asset portfolio?
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "84 мільйони за непрацюючу систему та розкішні активи: що відомо про майно й бізнес ексзаступника міністра Олександра Борнякова". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: ANTIKOR.