Ex-official, declared wanted in Ukraine, builds a new life in Belarus. Already held a high position and visited the Palace of Independence
One of the businessmen who attended the "teambuilding" event at the Palace of Independence was Roman Veprytsky — a former top manager of Ukrainian Railways, who was declared wanted on corruption charges. Since September 2022, he has been officially considered missing in his homeland. The publication "Zerkalo" found out that the former official lives in Belarus: he manages a factory, is associated with a pro-government foundation, and has already managed to speak with the Prime Minister at a recent meeting in the palace.

A Dazzling Career and Accusations of "Schemes"
"Unlike most Ukrainian politicians and businessmen, Roman Sergeevich has not one, but five higher educations," an anonymous author wrote about Veprytsky. Apparently, he studied at several universities simultaneously – as a result, he became a certified civil servant, manager, land surveyor, railway worker, and doctor of law all in one person. Since 2009, he worked in state positions in the Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions, and in 2015, he became a deputy of the regional council.
In 2017, Veprytsky moved to a regional division of Ukrainian Railways, and soon headed the local branch. By February 2020, he had risen to the position of infrastructure director in the parent company, and a couple of months later became a board member. The publication "Stopkor" called this decision "one of the strangest in recent weeks," and the newly appointed head "one of the main authors of shadow schemes in the railway sector."

The ascent ended a month later: the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine conducted searches at Veprytsky's home and workplace. State auditors found financial irregularities in his activities amounting to approximately 100 million hryvnias (about 3.8 million dollars at that time). He was first suspended from his position and then dismissed.
Veprytsky himself called the decision biased and claimed that he acted within the law. In his resignation, he saw the reaction of influential groups to his publicity and attempts to combat corruption schemes within the company.
The outcome of that story is unknown; Ukrainian media no longer wrote about it, and the manager himself withdrew from the public sphere. However, two years later, the National Police declared Veprytsky wanted.

The card on the agency's website indicates that he is wanted under the following articles:
- Part 5 of Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (Appropriation, embezzlement of property or seizure of it by abuse of official position on an especially large scale or by a group of persons);
- Part 2 of Art. 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (Official forgery, which led to grave consequences).
Veprytsky was wanted for arrest but could not be found. As a result, he was declared missing since September 2022 — a status he retains to this day.
New Life in Belarus
All the above-mentioned events did not prevent Roman Veprytsky from finding work in Belarus in 2024. He became the director of the "Izomat-komplekt" factory, which manufactures fastening elements. The factory itself is located in Ivatsevichy in the Brest region, while the warehouse and office are in Minsk.

Photos on the company's website and social networks show that the factory is managed not just by a namesake, but by the same person who is wanted in Ukraine. Amazon Recognition service estimates the probability of a match at 99.9%.

Veprytsky is also connected with the pro-government Belarusian Peace Fund. He can be seen at the organization's events; in publications, he is presented as an advisor to the chairman of the board — that is, Maxim Misko. However, such a position is not mentioned on the fund's website.

Recently, Veprytsky visited the Palace of Independence in Minsk for a meeting of entrepreneurs with Prime Minister Alexander Turchin. Judging by the photo report, he managed to address the official with a question (or perhaps a proposal).

Interestingly, the former official brought to Belarus not only an interest in business and social activities but also a hobby. On Veprytsky's Wikipedia page, someone compiled a long list of his awards and achievements — for example, the "Leaders of the XXI Century" medal, the "Patriot of Ukraine" order, and the first working replica of the Kyiv railway station.
Also on this list is Ukraine's largest collection of elephant figurines. Before his departure, there were 3,700, and the deputy even included them in his annual declarations. In Belarus, Veprytsky joined an association of collectors, and this summer he received a special certificate for his collection. By the way, it has grown: there are now more than four thousand figurines.
Now reading
In the Mironets family, the mother and three sisters have already been convicted for political reasons. Now the husband of one of the sisters has been arrested
Comments