Two residents of Mykolaiv have been notified of suspicion of extortion committed under martial law (Part 4 of Article 189 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). One of them is additionally suspected of acquiring and storing ammunition without the required legal permission (Part 1 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

According to the investigation, the men, who had previously been convicted multiple times for serious violent crimes, learned about a personal debt of a local woman to her friend and decided to illegally seize this money. 

Threatening physical harm, they told the victim that the debt to her friend had been canceled, and now she had to hand over the money to them.

To force the woman to pay $3,000, the perpetrators systematically called, sent threats via voice messages, and intimidated her during personal meetings.

Fearing for her life and health, the victim agreed to transfer the money, which she sent in parts to the bank accounts of the suspects and handed over in cash during May–June 2025. The total amount was 7,700 UAH.

The suspects were detained in accordance with Article 615 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. During searches, bank cards, phones, weapons, grenades, and packages containing plant-based substances were seized.

At the request of the prosecutors, both were chosen to be held in custody without the right to bail.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by investigators of the Investigative Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Mykolaiv region, with operational support from the Criminal Investigation Department and the Security Service of Ukraine in the region under the procedural guidance of the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor's Office.