Serhii Tupalskyi to Stand Trial in Case Concerning Hotel in Polianytsia

The indictment against former deputy head of Kyiv Customs Serhiy Tupalsky has been sent to court in a case of legalizing more than 2 million dollars invested in the construction of a hotel complex with a restaurant in Polyanytsia village, Ivano-Frankivsk region. According to investigators, the real owner was concealed by registering the property in the name of a relative of the former official. This was reported by the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office based on materials of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau.

According to the investigation, Serhiy Tupalsky financed the construction of a hotel complex with a restaurant near the Bukovell ski resort in 2020–2021 years. The total investment, according to law enforcement, exceeded 2 million dollars. The investigation claims that the legal origin of these funds was not proven, and the investments became a subject of a probe into possible money laundering of property obtained by criminal means, journalists report. For the registration of the property, as the law enforcement officers note, the name of Tupalsky’s relative was used. The hotel complex and the land on which the facility stands were registered in his name. According to the indictment, this scheme was intended to conceal the actual ownership of the assets, while Serhiy Tupalsky maintained control over the property and related activity. The investigation also established that over 2020–2025 years Tupalsky received income from work at the hotel complex. Law enforcement officers believe that the profits came from the use of property built with funds they associate with illegal origin. Details about the volume of income, financial transactions, and accounting methods are not disclosed in the prosecutor’s message. In March 2026 year, Serhiy Tupalsky was notified of suspicion under part three of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. This provision provides liability for legalization of property obtained by criminal means under circumstances defined by the relevant part of the article. After the completion of the pretrial investigation, the SAP prosecutor sent the indictment to court. This signifies a transition of the case to trial, during which the prosecution must prove the facts stated in the act.

The sanction of part three of Article 209 of the Criminal Code provides from 8 to 12 years of imprisonment, deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to three years, and asset confiscation. The final legal assessment of the defendant’s actions is for the court. The mere fact of handing over the indictment does not mean that Tupalsky’s guilt has already been established. Serhiy Tupalsky previously served as deputy head of Kyiv Customs. In this case, anti-corruption authorities are checking not only the origin of funds invested in the real estate, but also the circumstances of registering assets in another person’s name and obtaining profits from their operation. According to the investigation, formal registration of property in a relative’s name did not reflect actual control over the hotel. The hotel complex is located in Polyanytsia, a village in Ivano-Frankivsk region, where the tourism infrastructure of Bukovel operates. At the same time, the SAP message does not specify the hotel’s name, its exact area, the number of rooms, or the current market value of the property. It has not disclosed whether a seizure was imposed on the complex and the land within this proceeding. Further proceedings will determine whether the evidence of the origin of more than 2 million dollars is confirmed, the relative’s role in arranging the assets, and Serhiy Tupalsky’s actual control over the hotel business. There is no information in the prosecutor’s message about the date of the preparatory meeting or other scheduled court hearings. In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent of a crime until proven guilty in a lawful order and confirmed by a court verdict. Serhiy Tupalsky has the status of an accused, and the circumstances cited are the prosecution’s version that must be tested during the court proceedings.