Prosecutors allege former officers kidnapped victims and used coercion to steal over $2.2 million in digital assets.
Former Ukrainian police colonels and officers are accused of kidnapping crypto entrepreneurs and extorting $2.2 million through violence and intimidation. The group allegedly used law enforcement tactics and official transport to carry out the scheme, targeting at least four victims in so-called “wrench attacks.”
The Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office completed its pre-trial investigation into the group, which included four ex-police officers and a convicted civilian. The suspects, previously stationed in Russian-occupied Crimea and Kyiv, were discharged following their arrests and have not yet been formally charged.
Prosecutors say the defendants formed an armed gang, committing kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and robbery. The case highlights a growing trend of physical crypto thefts globally, where criminals use coercion to steal digital assets.