The Security Service of Ukraine revealed the “chief financier” of the occupation administration in Kharkiv region, headed by collaborator Vitaliy Ganchev.

Source: Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office

According to the investigation, the criminal was a 52-year-old resident of Kupyansk, who supported the Russian invaders and joined the local occupation administration at the beginning of the full-scale invasion in June 2022.

The woman willingly accepted the position of “acting head of the Finance Department of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration”. In this position, the collaborator participated in preparing and implementing the budget of the “Temporary Civil Administration of the Kharkiv Region”.

Meeting of collaborators of Shevcheknove, including Andriy Stryzhko, with the self-proclaimed pro-Kremlin head of Kharkiv region Vitaliy Ganchev / Materials of the KhAC, anticor-kharkiv.org

She supervised the budget of the occupied part of the region under the direction of the invaders. The offender was planning salaries for institutions, enterprises and organizations of state and municipal ownership in the illegal authority established in the temporarily occupied territory of Kharkiv region.

Last week, the criminal was notified of suspicion in absentia under Part 5 Art. 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

What is ‘Kharkov Military–Civilian Administration’?

Russian forces invaded Ukraine, taking control of various areas within Kharkiv Oblast since February 24, 2022. Despite their attempts, Russian forces were unable to capture the oblast’s capital, Kharkiv. However, they successfully occupied other significant cities such as Izium, Kupiansk, and Balakliia.

  • On February 25, Russian forces managed to capture Chuhuiv, but Ukrainian forces recaptured it on March 7. As of November 2022, Russian forces maintain control over a small portion of the land within Kharkiv Oblast.
  • The ‘Kharkov Military-Civilian Administration’, originally based in Kupiansk, briefly relocated to Vovchansk on 8 September 2022, but moved again before the city was recaptured by Ukrainian forces on 11 September 2022.
  • As of 18 September 2022, Russian forces only occupy a small strip of Kharkiv Oblast east of the Oskil. On 13 September 2022, Ukrainian forces had reportedly crossed the Oskil and had set up positions at multiple locations. 
  • On 16 September 2022, Ukrainian forces claimed to have recaptured Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi, Kupiansk’s sister city on the eastern bank of the Oskil.
  • On 3 October 2022, Russian forces fled from Nyzhche Solone, Pidlyman, Nyzhnya Zhuravka, Borova, and Shyikivka, allowing Ukrainian authorities to regain control of almost all of the oblast. On the same day, pro-Kremlin ‘Russian military–civilian administration’ in Kharkiv Oblast collapsed.

See also

  • Ex-deputy of Kharkiv city council to be tried for collaboration. The indictment was filed against the 57-year-old former deputy of Kharkiv City Council from the Party of Regions, Igor Telyatnikov, who served as the so-called pro-Kremlin “acting head of the military-civilian administration of the Kharkiv district.”
  • Russia against journalists: over 20 media workers are victims of war crimes. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) recorded over 50 cases of Russians directing artillery fire against journalists. In half of the cases, this was done purposely.
  • War crimes in Kharkiv Oblast: 37 Russian servicemen notified of suspicion. Crimes committed by the military personnel of the aggressor state and representatives of Russian private military companies must not go unpunished.