In the Chernihiv region, law enforcement officers have exposed a 41-year-old woman and her 39-year-old cohabiting partner, who are suspected of fraud. They promised a resident of Pryluky that, for more than 500,000 hryvnias, they would bring her son back from Russian captivity.
This is reported by the Chernihiv Regional Police.
According to law enforcement, in July 2025 an acquaintance of the victim offered, for money, to help get her son discharged from military service. The woman believed the promises and handed over $5,500, but received no help.
Later, when her son stopped getting in touch, the acquaintance claimed that he was being held in Russian captivity. Together with her partner, she assured the victim that they could help bring him home. For this, the woman was to pay an additional $6,000.
After that, the suspects continued to extract money under various pretexts. In particular, they convinced the victim that the funds were needed to process documents for her son’s meals. In this way, they obtained a further 60,000 hryvnias.
Police say the suspects transferred the money they received to accounts at various banks and then spent it on their own needs. During searches at the suspects’ places of residence, officers seized mobile phones containing messages.
In addition, police established that the man is on an international wanted list on suspicion of fraud. He was detained for further extradition and placed in a temporary detention facility.
Both suspects were served with a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — fraud. The article provides for up to five years’ imprisonment.