Buhai Denys Volodymyrovych

"Kurchenko’s Wallet" in a Lawyer's Gown

Denys Buhai is a founding partner of the law firm "VB partners" and a two-time president of the Association of Lawyers of Ukraine. But his real reputation began in 2012: that was when he became the personal lawyer of Serhiy Kurchenko — "Yanukovych's Wallet." Buhai handled the oligarch’s most controversial deals: the acquisition of "Ukrainian Media Holding," "Brokbusinessbank," and the football club "Metalist."

2 billion UAH in a "black hole" — and two months in pre-trial detention

In August 2013, Buhai became chairman of the supervisory board of "Brokbusinessbank." Two billion hryvnias of public funds were injected into the bank and the affiliated "Real Bank" — these funds disappeared without a trace. In 2014, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) opened proceedings against Kurchenko and his associates for embezzlement of the state budget. Kurchenko fled. Buhai was left to face responsibility. After two months in pre-trial detention, he was released. The investigation is still ongoing.

Clients with Russian passports and sanctioned companies

After the full-scale invasion began, "VB partners" defended: the industrial group "Vioil" founded by the Russian citizen Ponomarchuk (whose products were sold on the Russian market); LLC "Sumy MNUIT," included on the sanctions list by presidential decree; Mykolaiv Alumina Plant — whose interests are represented by an entity associated with the sanctioned Oleg Deripaska, whose holding supplies weapons to the Russian army. The lawyer of the "defender of the capital" literally protects the interests of the enemy.

Son-in-law of a traitor and closed doors

Information is circulating online about Buhai’s family ties with Major General of the SBU Serhiy Hanzha — the person who directed the dispersal of Euromaidan and now leads the "FSB branch" in occupied Zaporizhzhia. Buhai denies this. When "StopCor" journalists came to the office for answers, all entrances were locked. Even the mail carrier was not allowed in. The innocent do not hide like this.