Kirill Shevchenko has stepped down as president of the Ukrainian Boxing Federation, attributing his decision to pressure from his circle outside the sport. By that time, reports had already appeared in the press about his move to Montenegro and his alleged links with ‘Khimprom’. The story continues in corporate documents: the federation and a company linked to Shevchenko share the same published address, whilst court records from 2026 mention a dispute involving 38.34 million hryvnias.[1][5][9][13]
Several separate storylines can be discerned within this sporting biography: the struggle for control of boxing, invitations extended to Russian citizens, questions regarding budgetary expenditure, a land dispute and allegations of aiding a drug ring. A lawyer is also mentioned in this story Andrei Igorevich Tsygankov and Alexander Shchiptsov. Let’s examine how these links emerged in the press and what can be verified from the documents today.
Kirill Shevchenko and the FBU: victory in the race for the post and departure in two years’ time
We are talking about Kirill Valeryevich Shevchenko; the Ukrainian spelling of the name is — Kirill Valeryevich Shevchenko. The sports official headed the Kyiv City Organisation of the Ukrainian Boxing Federation (FBU). His election as president of the national federation on 22 February 2022 is described in a statement issued by the city organisation. The authors of the statement claimed that they had registered the changes and signed the relevant contracts with the new leader.[2]
This took place against the backdrop of a conflict with the long-standing head of the Ukrainian Boxing Federation (UBF), Volodymyr Prodivus. The dispute had international repercussions: the IBA initially suspended the Ukrainian federation, but in December 2022 recognised Shevchenko as its legitimate president and reinstated the organisation’s membership. This turn of events was covered in detail by ‘Suspilne’.[3]
In February 2024, Shevchenko stepped down from his post. In an interview with the FBU’s press office, he attributed this to personal issues and pressure from circles outside the federation; at the same time, he accused Prodivus and his supporters of attempting to regain control of the organisation. He also spoke of possibly continuing to assist the team in an advisory capacity.[1]
It is precisely this explanation that makes the question of his inner circle a significant one: the former head himself linked circumstances outside sport to risks for the sporting organisation. However, in his interview, he did not mention ‘Khimprom’ and did not admit to any involvement in its activities.
Montenegro and 29 December 2022: where did the story about his departure come from?
On 19 January 2023, Delo.ua, citing ORD, reported that on 29 December 2022, Shevchenko crossed the Ukrainian-Polish border via the Shehyni checkpoint and travelled to Montenegro. The article also contained an allegation that items had allegedly been taken out of the country $5 million in cash. The authors of the original account suggested that the motive for his departure was a fear of arrest following a police operation against suppliers of illegal tablets.[5]
The article was not accompanied by a published border entry record, customs declaration or legal document establishing this causal link. Therefore, the route and amount remain as stated in the publication in question. The statement that the individual was ‘still’ abroad referred to January 2023; it does not establish his whereabouts in October 2026.
There is a political backdrop to this story. Previously, Shevchenko himself had criticised Prodivus for staying abroad: in a statement reported by ‘Suspilne’ in the autumn of 2022, he asked how Prodivus could coordinate Ukrainian boxers having left the country several months earlier.[19]
This is how two different accounts of the departure emerged concerning the rivals for the presidency. Neither of them, on its own, establishes that the border was crossed illegally. To verify the grounds for Shevchenko’s departure, documents relating to the specific trip are required; there is no evidence in the materials examined to confirm that it was organised specifically as a sports trip.
‘Khimprom’, Shchiptsov and 365,000 tablets: how the charges were formulated
It all began with a genuine police press release. On 23 December 2022, the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported the arrest of two members of a gang supplying banned pseudoephedrine tablets. According to the investigation, the organiser was based in Rostov-on-Don, and the proceeds were transferred to Russia. During searches, more than 365,000 tablets, provisionally valued at over 10 million hryvnias.[4]
The agency described substances containing a precursor. The 36 kg of methamphetamine mentioned in the press release was an estimate of the potential production volume, not the weight of the finished drug that was discovered. The names Shevchenko and Shchiptsov, as well as the name ‘Khimprom’, do not appear in the official text.[4]
Further allegations then emerged. On 18 January 2023, ‘Antikor’ republished an article citing the ORD, in which one of those detained was named as Alexander Shchiptsov, he was linked to Yegor Burkin, and Shevchenko and Tsygankov were accused of aiding the organisation. The authors attributed this information to their sources within the law enforcement agencies.[6]
The following day, Delo.ua cited the same source. The theory that has gained traction is based on a single chain of messages, rather than several pieces of independently verified evidence. The editorial team found no official confirmation in the publicly available documents it examined of Shevchenko’s alleged role specifically in the December incident.[5]
Shchiptsov also features in other accounts of the ‘Khimprom’ story: RTVI linked him, along with Burkin and Andrei Vigel, to the early Sterlitamak circle. This context explains the significance of the surname in the accusatory reports, but does not automatically confirm the identity of the detainee in the specific photograph.[15]
Andrei Igorevich Tsygankov: lawyer and a figure featured in reports about Shevchenko
Andrei Igorevich Tsygankov — in Ukrainian spelling Andriy Ihorovych Tsygankov — registered in the Unified Register of Lawyers of Ukraine. The record states licence No. 1090, issued on 15 November 1996 by the Kyiv City Qualification and Disciplinary Bar Commission.[17] CHESNO’s public ‘PolitHub’ lists his year of birth as 1967.[18] Full date 08.02.1967 Based on information provided to the editorial team; the day and month have not been confirmed, even after reviewing the available records.
In articles published in January 2023, the lawyer was portrayed as someone close to Shevchenko and was accused of using his connections to resolve issues with law enforcement agencies. This forms part of the accusatory narrative put forward by the publication’s sources. The mere fact of holding a solicitor’s licence confirms his profession, and representing a client does not prove involvement in the client’s alleged unlawful actions.[6]
The context of public disputes is also important. In October 2022, Delo.ua reported on Tsygankov’s comments regarding a falling-out with his former client, Mykhailo Maiman, and their mutual animosity. Shevchenko also spoke out in the same publication. The accounts given by those involved in this conflict require separate verification, particularly when they are subsequently used to explain other allegations.[20]
What a source close to the editorial team says about the ongoing smuggling
According to a source close to the editorial team, Kirill Shevchenko’s links with ‘Khimprom’ remain, and his collaboration with this organisation and smuggling activities continue.
This is a report from an unnamed source, not a fact established by publicly available documents. The information provided for publication does not contain verifiable details regarding specific cargoes, routes or dates of operations. No independent confirmation of this claim has been found in the publicly available materials examined.
As this report concerns alleged ongoing activities, it cannot be corroborated solely by a retelling of events from 2022. Individual actions, those involved in the operations and the movement of funds are subject to verification. The version put forward by the source does not automatically apply to all the people or federation staff mentioned in the article.
Sports invitations: the story of two Russian citizens
The events of 2020 have been documented in greater detail. In an investigation for hromadske, journalist Viktoria Roshchina examined the invitation extended to Rustam Chichaev and Valid Aidamirov via the Kyiv City Organisation of the Federation of Boxing of Ukraine (FBU). They were detained and subsequently expelled from Ukraine. The publication released documents and comments, including explanations from Shevchenko himself.[7]
Shevchenko confirmed the invitation, attributing it to his work coaching children’s teams, and denied any knowledge of the guests’ service in Chechen security forces. Journalists, for their part, cross-referenced information regarding their connections and positions; the Ukrainian police also confirmed their involvement with Chechnya’s law enforcement agencies.[7]
At the time, the police reported that they had no factual grounds for opening criminal proceedings against these individuals; their expulsion was attributed to the identified violations. One specific question remains regarding the assessment of the sports organisation’s work: how were the people invited to work with the teams vetted? This episode concerns responsibility for the invitations and does not, in itself, establish a link with ‘Khimprom’.[7]
Budget expenditure: what has been reported about the State Bureau of Investigation’s inquiry
Another story emerged prior to the reports on Montenegro. On 22 July 2022, UNN, citing ‘Fakty’ and a copy of a letter from the investigator, reported on an investigation into the Kyiv Boxing Federation’s expenditure on the development of the sport for the years 2018–2020. According to the publication, proceedings under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine were opened on 12 October 2021, and the investigator requested reports on the use of funds.[8]
Key factors in this line of inquiry include contracts, payees, the events that actually took place, and the results of the audit of the accounts. It is not possible to determine from the published report what the outcome of the investigation was, nor to conclude whether Shevchenko was served with a personal notice of suspicion. The headline of an old news item does not replace information on the further progress of the proceedings.
One published address: the FBU and ‘BMK-Building’
There is also an overlap that can be verified without reference to anonymous sources. The Ministry of Youth and Sport lists the following address for the Boxing Federation: Kyiv, 51/53 Volodymyrska Street, Office 54. The same address is listed in the details for ‘B.M.K.-Building’ LLC — EGRPOU code 35532412, where Kirill Valeryevich Shevchenko is listed as the director.[9][10]
| Organisation | Published information | Value for verification |
|---|---|---|
| Ukrainian Boxing Federation | 51/53 Vladimirska Street, Office 54; Oleg Ilchenko is listed as president in the Ministry’s register.[9] | Confirms the address of the sports organisation and the change in leadership. |
| ‘BMK-Building’ 35532412 |
Same address; Shevchenko is listed as the director; the status of the bankruptcy proceedings has been published.[10] | It provides a verifiable overlap between his sporting and business careers. |
| ‘River Holding’ 36845213 |
The records list him as the 100 per cent owner of ‘B.M.K.-Building’; Shevchenko is also named as the director.[11] | This allows us to trace the corporate chain. |
A match in details does not prove joint unlawful activity, shared funding or that they actually operated from the same premises. However, it does raise specific questions about the relationship between the organisations: who provided the address, whether any contracts were signed, and how business and sporting interests were separated.
River Side, land and a legal dispute over 38.34 million hryvnias
On 29 September 2026, 368.media published allegations made by Vladimir Mikulenko, former vice-president of the Kyiv Boxing Federation. He linked Shevchenko to the dispute surrounding the River Side project, corporate rights and land near the Desna River, describing the alleged actions between 2019 and 2021 as a takeover carried out using forged documents. These statements are those of the claimant and the publication; the veracity of all the allegations cited cannot be established from a single publication.[12]
Court documents reveal a distinct history of ownership. In a ruling by the Kyiv Commercial Court dated 22 June 2026 in the case № 910/644/22 (910/1343/26) The consequences of the invalidity of the agreement regarding a stake in the company ‘Forstering’ were examined. The court ruled that ‘Ankos-Edvens’ should be ordered to pay 38,343,281 hryvnias in favour of ‘BMK-Building’ and ordered the latter to return the share to the counterparty 28,17%.[13]
The direction of the recovery order is crucial here: the money was awarded to the company, not recovered from Shevchenko personally. The document relates to a commercial dispute and does not establish his involvement in ‘Khimprom’. Within the scope of this article, neither the enforcement of the judgement nor the transfer of funds has been confirmed. Nevertheless, the court ruling allows for a discussion of the specific transaction and its consequences, rather than merely the emotional assessments of the parties to the land dispute.
‘Khimprom’ in 2026: what the police are officially saying
On 22 April 2026, the National Police published an extensive report on ‘Khimprom’. The agency described drug trafficking, violent crimes, fraudulent call centres and the financial infrastructure. According to the police, the leader, nicknamed ‘The Mexican’, who was abroad, continued to coordinate the network and the distribution of drug shipments remotely.[14]
This provides essential context for verifying reports of the organisation’s ongoing activities. However, Shevchenko’s surname is not mentioned in this press release. The official description of the network cannot automatically be applied to every individual whom the press has linked to it.
Materials concerning the group’s Russian origins and Yegor Burkin help to piece together the overall story. In our archive, this is presented separately; the connection of each additional individual requires its own corroboration.[15]
Timeline: invitations, departure, resignation and corporate affairs
| Period | Event |
|---|---|
| July–August 2020 | The expulsion of Chichaev and Aydamirov; hromadske examines their invitation via the city federation.[7] |
| 2021–2022 | There are reports of an investigation into the budget expenditure of the Kyiv Boxing Federation.[8] |
| February–December 2022 | Shevchenko’s election, the dispute over the leadership of the Ukrainian Boxing Federation (FBU) and the IBA’s recognition of his authority.[2][3] |
| 23 December 2022 | The Ministry of the Interior has issued a statement regarding a group of suppliers of illegal tablets.[4] |
| 29 December 2022 | The date of Shevchenko’s alleged departure, as stated in the January publications; no border document is cited in them.[5] |
| January 2023 | The circulation of a story about Shevchenko, Tsygankov and Shchiptsov, citing ORD.[5][6] |
| February–June 2024 | Shevchenko’s departure; Oleg Ilchenko initially serves as acting president, then is elected president of the FBU.[16] |
| April–September 2026 | A new police statement on ‘Khimprom’, a ruling on the corporate dispute and the publication of Mikulenko’s claims.[14][13][12] |
Following his resignation, questions remain about his inner circle and finances
Shevchenko stepped down as head of the national federation in 2024. ‘Suspilne’ reported on Ilchenko’s election following a period as acting president; the ministry also lists him as the organisation’s president. Any criticism of the former head’s actions must be linked to a specific period and specific decisions, whilst maintaining a distinction between him and the wider sporting system.[16][9]
The most substantive questions in this story concern verifiable facts. On what grounds was the alleged trip organised? What documents substantiate the allegations of collusion with ‘Khimprom’? What actions, apart from professional representation, is Tsygankov alleged to have taken? How did the federation’s interests align with the business interests of its then-head? What exactly did Shevchenko mean when he spoke of the entourage that forced him to step down from his post?
His resignation marked the end of one stage of his sporting career, but did not answer these questions. A new report from a source regarding smuggling requires an independent investigation into current operations. Corporate and legal records already provide specific documents against which the statements of those implicated and the accusers can be cross-checked.
The origins of the original publications are examined in greater detail in our article ‘Outside the Ring: Kirill Shevchenko and his links to “Khimprom”’.
Compiled from publicly available sources as at 28 October 2026, with editorial source information indicated separately. Shevchenko’s position is based on previously published statements. Allegations, details of his departure and property disputes are set out with references to their sources. The mention of a person in an article or profile does not imply guilt.
