Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine
The first stage of the certification of the BEB's management has been completed: 74% did not pass. Experts are demanding an audit of criminal cases, including those against airlines.
ESBU analytical reports are grounds for an investigation, but not evidence of a crime. Lawyer Oleh Shram warned of the risks of pressure on businesses due to abuse of this mechanism.
The BEB initiates criminal proceedings based on internal analytical reports that are not evidence. This creates risks for businesses and deters the international investors needed for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Following the revocation of GlobalSign certificates, Russian government and bank websites are experiencing access problems. Businesses are forced to spend millions of rubles switching to their own certificates.
MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that groundless investigative actions are the main barrier to investment. Ukraine's reconstruction requires $588 billion, including private capital.
Russia is already testing NATO’s response to military aggression and may move on to more dangerous provocations. At the same time, Europe’s weak point remains the low pace of defense production and shortages of certain types of weapons.
The Public Council under the Ministry of Finance plans to consider the taxation of lease payments for aircraft and initiate a general tax clarification. The reason was differing approaches to classifying such transactions as royalties, which led to criminal cases being brought against airlines.
The President of the Association of Taxpayers of Ukraine, Grigol Katamadze, called on the state to develop unified rules for the taxation of aircraft leasing. He warned that further pressure on air carriers through criminal cases initiated by the Economic Security Bureau could destroy Ukrainian civil aviation.
The Ukrainian Air Transport Association appealed to the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada and the Public Council under the Ministry of Finance regarding a unified approach to the taxation of aviation leasing. Different interpretations of the rules have led to additional tax assessments and criminal proceedings by the Bureau of Economic Security against air carriers.
The Ukrainian Air Transport Association urges the government to form a unified position on the taxation of operating leases of aircraft. The Bureau of Economic Security has opened criminal cases against five airlines due to the interpretation of lease payments as royalties.
Ukrainian airlines operate 131 leased aircraft out of 152, which is 86% of the fleet. The Bureau of Economic Security is investigating cases against 5 airlines over the interpretation of lease payments as royalties.
The lawyer stated that the BEB is obliged to take into account the results of the State Tax Service audits, which found no violations in the taxation of leasing. She emphasized that criminal prosecution requires new evidence, not a change in interpretation.
Law enforcement officers exposed two underground tobacco factories in Kharkiv and Lviv regions. More than 115,000 packs of cigarettes, 3.5 tons of tobacco, and equipment worth UAH 60 million were seized.
The results of the State Tax Service's tax audits are key evidence in cases of non-payment of taxes by airlines through leasing. Ignoring these conclusions without new evidence may indicate the groundlessness of criminal prosecution.
Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi stated that the airports "Lviv" and "Boryspil" are ready for operation and can resume flights within a few weeks after security issues are resolved. At the same time, Ukrainian airlines complain about pressure from the BEB, which threatens the existence of the civil aviation industry due to a new interpretation of leasing taxation.
BEB is investigating cases against 5 airlines over alleged non-payment of 15% royalties for aircraft leasing. Experts state that this interpretation contradicts legislation and international conventions.
The Bureau of Economic Security has opened criminal proceedings against five airlines regarding leasing operations, equating them to royalties. Lawyers consider this pressure on business, as the State Tax Service previously found no violations during audits.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko reported the return of UAH 1. 6 billion for the first half of 2026 in cases of tax evasion. Examples include compensation of UAH 33 million from an enterprise with defense contracts and UAH 98 million from a developer.
The Bureau of Economic Security is investigating cases against airlines, equating lease payments to royalties. Law enforcement officers ignore international conventions, existing court practice, as well as tax audits that found no violations.
Deputy Director of the STS Department Victoria Kasyan reported that only one audit of airlines revealed a reclassification of lease payments into royalties. The BES is investigating criminal cases against five air carriers for non-payment of 15% royalties.
Ukrainian airlines are forced to pay additional taxes for aircraft leasing over the past seven years due to a new interpretation of taxation. The Bureau of Economic Security has opened criminal proceedings against a number of carriers.
The parliament supported the resignation of Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko along with the Cabinet of Ministers with 258 votes. The successor will temporarily be Denys Shmyhal.
The interpretation of aircraft leasing as royalties by the State Tax Service and the BEB contradicts the principles of applying international conventions on the avoidance of double taxation. International tax law expert Olena Kuznechikova emphasizes that the problem should be resolved by an official clarification from the Ministry of Finance, not by criminal prosecution of businesses.
Attempts to retroactively charge Ukrainian airlines 15% royalties for aircraft leasing could lead to the bankruptcy of most market players. The Aerospace Association of Ukraine calls on the state to ensure legal certainty on the issue.
Ukraine increased its defense budget to a record UAH 4. 4 trillion for 2026, having received the first tranche of EUR 3.9 billion from the EU for drones. At the same time, the Bureau of Economic Security is putting pressure on airlines, which paid UAH 702 million in taxes in 2025.
The Bureau of Economic Security is investigating criminal proceedings against five Ukrainian airlines over aircraft leasing. Experts warn that treating lease payments as royalties contradicts international law.
The Tax Committee of the Verkhovna Rada found statistical errors and manipulations in the BEB report for 2025. Deputies noted the low effectiveness of investigations, with only 13% of cases reaching court.
Ukraine's aviation industry paid a record UAH 702 million in taxes in 2025, despite the closed sky. Due to criminal cases by the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) regarding aircraft leasing and a decline in profitability, businesses risk leaving Ukrainian jurisdiction.
Since the beginning of the day, 204 combat engagements have occurred at the front. The enemy carried out three missile strikes and dropped 213 guided air bombs.
The Cabinet of Ministers has adopted a resolution that launches a mechanism to restrict the access of military personnel to gambling during the period of martial law. The data will be verified through the Register of Military Personnel.