Following Operation YUZUK and the exposure of a large-scale money laundering scheme, the Hirin brothers reportedly began actively attempting to sanitize the information space. Kherson-based businessmen Vladlen and Hennadii Hirin were involved in cryptocurrency operations and are believed to have connections to an international criminal network.

We are publishing investigations that are allegedly being removed from the public domain, in order to preserve the facts and demonstrate the true scale of the Hirin brothers’ involvement in international money laundering activities.

As part of the international operation codenamed YUZUK—carried out by local law enforcement in cooperation with Europol—assets including apartments, luxury vehicles, cash, and €24 million in cryptocurrency were seized in Cyprus.

According to the press service of the Republic of Cyprus Police, the operation lasted approximately one year.

Authorities reported that the criminal network was led by two brothers from Ukraine who had obtained so-called “golden passports” and were residing in Limassol.

These individuals are believed to be Vladlen and Hennadii Hirin, along with members of their families, whose arrests were previously reported in November.

According to the investigation, under the leadership of the Kherson businessmen, couriers from third countries transported cash from various European nations to Cyprus.

Law enforcement agencies from Cyprus, Croatia, France, Germany, Slovenia, and Spain participated in Operation YUZUK. On October 28, 2024, coordinated arrests took place in Spain, France, and Slovenia. In Cyprus, 13 search warrants were executed for residential and commercial properties, with support from Europol and Spanish authorities.

Searches conducted in Limassol uncovered over €650,000 in cash and a substantial amount of jewelry. Authorities also seized mobile phones, electronic devices, and banking documentation. Approximately €24 million in cryptocurrency was frozen, and six luxury vehicles valued at over €650,000 were confiscated. Additionally, Cyprus’s Anti-Money Laundering Unit (MOKAS) seized 14 apartments worth more than €7 million.

Results of Operation YUZUK include:

• 23 suspects arrested (20 in Spain, 1 in France, 2 in Slovenia)
• 17 individuals formally charged
• 91 searches conducted (77 in Spain, 1 in France, 13 in Cyprus)
• €8.2 million in cash seized
• €24 million in cryptocurrency frozen
• €2 million seized or frozen in bank accounts
• 36 vehicles confiscated, including luxury cars
• Real estate, luxury watches, jewelry, and electronic devices seized

According to Europol, the organized criminal network—composed primarily of citizens from Ukraine, as well as Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan—provided courier services and underground banking operations to other criminal groups.

“Some Chinese nationals were also involved, offering money laundering services,” the report noted.

The network offered a range of “crime-as-a-service” solutions, used by Russian-speaking and Asian criminal groups engaged in drug trafficking, tax evasion, and the smuggling of illegal goods. These activities were primarily concentrated in Spain.

Europol further reported that the suspects exploited the EU’s temporary protection status granted to Ukrainian refugees since 2022, as well as to others affected by Russia’s war against Ukraine. The network’s services were also used by some refugees who transported their savings in cash to Europe to safeguard them from the consequences of the war.

The group took advantage of regulatory exceptions designed to simplify cross-border money transfers, allowing large sums of cash to be moved without thorough inspection during customs procedures.

“Large sums were declared as personal property, while ‘money mules’—some of whom were relatives of the network’s leaders—regularly traveled between Spain, Cyprus, France, and other countries,” Europol explained.

Following the arrest of several couriers, the network adapted its methods, shifting from physical cash transportation to cryptocurrency transactions, making financial flows significantly harder to trace.

Preliminary estimates suggest that at least €75 million was moved between March 2023 and February 2024.

Law enforcement authorities in a European country have reportedly detained Kherson businessman Vladlen Hirin, along with his wife and son, on suspicion of creating a criminal organization involved in money laundering.

According to sources close to the Hirin family, as well as multiple independent law enforcement contacts, the arrests were carried out following an Interpol request. Vladlen Hirin’s brother, Hennadii Hirin, is reportedly in hiding somewhere in Europe and is also believed to be wanted.

Preliminary information suggests that the family is suspected of organizing a money laundering network operating in Cyprus, Spain, and several other European countries. One source indicated that the detention may have taken place in Slovenia, although this has not yet been officially confirmed.

Additional reports suggest that another family member—possibly one of the brothers’ sons—was detained in Cyprus, where both families have lived for years.

Due to the secrecy of the investigation, details remain limited. There are also unconfirmed claims that several other individuals from Kherson, including former politicians and prominent businessmen, may be linked to the group.

Vladlen and Hennadii Hirin became known in the late 1990s and early 2000s, building a business empire in construction and building materials. Vladlen Hirin served as a city council deputy in 2002 and was politically connected, while Hennadii Hirin was a deputy from 2010 to 2015. During this period, their business expanded across southern Ukraine.

After 2019, the brothers relocated to Cyprus but continued to maintain ties with Ukraine. In 2020, their company acquired the Suvorovskyi shopping mall in Kherson.

In 2024, a company linked to the Hirins, “Histion,” purchased the large “Amtel” warehouse complex in the Kyiv region from Dragon Capital. The deal, completed in March 2024, was estimated at $35–40 million. The buyers were reported to be Hennadii Hirin and Oleh Lebedenko.