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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The trial of Yaroslav Popenko, the son of the Priluky mayor, who is accused of systematically selling drugs, was paused because of his service in the Armed Forces. 28 In August, the court established that the service member is on combat duty and cannot participate in hearings, even via videoconference. StopKor decided to find out where exactly the defendant is serving and sent a request to the Priluky RCTK and SP. Here another interesting link appeared: the head of this center, according to OpenDatabot, is Artur Vorontsov, about whom the editors have previously written.
The court paused the Popenko case
StopKor covered the story of Popenko’s arrest back in July 2025 of the year. At that time, law enforcement reported the arrest of a man suspected of systematic drug distribution.
18 July, the Priluky city district court chose a preventive measure for Popenko in the form of remand with the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 242 240 hryvnias. Subsequently, the bail was posted.
Later, the case was repeatedly adjourned. Popenko appealed the suspicion notice, sought restoration to the position of deputy director of the Priluky Children and Youth Sports School, and the court separately ruled on his removal from the post.
In April 2026 year, the lawyer informed the court that Popenko had been mobilized to the Armed Forces. In May, the defense filed a motion to suspend proceedings.
28 August, the Priluky city district court granted this motion. According to Suspline, Judge Anatoliy Kovalenko established that Popenko is on a combat mission, making it impossible to ensure his participation in hearings via videoconference.
The court also ordered Popenko himself and the commander of the military unit to inform about the termination of circumstances that were the grounds for suspending proceedings, as well as about possible dismissal or transfer of the service member.
Where is Popenko serving?
That question has now attracted StopKor's editors.
During previous hearings, the court attempted to determine Popenko’s place of service and the possibility of his remote participation in the case. As the judge reported, from June to August letters were sent to the command of the military unit. In responses, it was stated that Popenko could participate in the hearing via videoconference.
Meanwhile, a representative of the military unit stated that at that time such communication could not be ensured because the serviceman was involved in combat duties. On the eve of the hearing, 28 August, the court again received similar information.
Thus, StopKor editors sent an appropriate inquiry to the Priluky District Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center. Journalists want to clarify in which exact military unit and subdivision Yaroslav Popenko is serving.
Who is currently heading the Priluky RCTK?
There is another detail that drew the editors’ attention.
According to OpenDatabot, the head of the Priluky District Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center is Artur Vyacheslavovych Vorontsov.
The name Artur Vorontsov has already appeared in StopKor materials when he headed the Lozivyi TCTK in Kharkiv region.
Millions, cars and a case about family assets
In August 2025 the StopKor wrote about an investigation into Vorontsov and his family.
According to the editors, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court with a civil confiscation claim for assets worth 3,4 million UAH, which, according to SAP, could be ill-gotten assets of the official’s family. StopKor materials noted that formally part of the property was registered in the name of Vorontsov’s mother-in-law.
Journalists drew attention, in particular, to Hyundai Elantra, Toyota Camry Hybrid and Lexus NX200, as well as real estate. According to the investigation, Vorontsov’s mother-in-law worked as a nurse at the TCTK clinic.
Vorontsov himself, according to StopKor, refused to answer journalists’ questions about property and family ties, directing them to lawyers.
Two stories crossed in Priluky
Thus, the stories of two StopKor journalist subjects intersected in one city.
In one case, it is about Yaroslav Popenko, whose case for alleged systematic drug distribution is currently paused due to his military service. In the other, about Artur Vorontsov, who, according to OpenDatabot, heads the Priluky RCTK and SP, and whose activities StopKor previously investigated.
The editors have already submitted a request to the Priluky RCTK and SP regarding Popenko’s service.
Now StopKor awaits an official response from Artur Vorontsov and will monitor the further course of Yaroslav Popenko’s case.
Also read:
In Chernihiv region, police uncovered a drug dealer – it was the son of the city’s head of Priluky.
Millions, cars and “protection” for money? Family secrets of the war mobilization official from Kharkiv region.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Попенко пішов у ЗСУ, а його справу зупинили: хто тепер має пояснити, де служить фігурант наркотичної справи". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: NARDEP 24.
