Kyiv steps up demolition of illegal temporary structures – city administration
Kyivblahoustrii utility company has demolished a retail outlet on Holosiivsky Avenue after reviewing the legality of its placement. According to law enforcement authorities, the site was part of a scheme for the illegal production, storage, transportation and sale of liquids for electronic cigarettes, Kyiv City State Administration said.
"City services, together with law enforcement agencies, are inspecting facilities used for illegal trade. In particular, the department reviewed a request from the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine regarding the legality of a retail outlet on Holosiivsky Avenue. According to law enforcement, illegally manufactured excisable goods, including liquids for electronic cigarettes, were sold there," the administration said on Telegram on Monday.
According to the statement, the inspection found that the facility had been installed without the required documents. The city had not issued permits for its installation, so the structure was subject to demolition. The work was carried out by Kyivblahoustrii.
The Bureau of Economic Security said the outlet was part of a scheme for the illegal production, storage, transportation and sale of liquids for electronic cigarettes manufactured outside state control. As part of the pretrial investigation, detectives carried out more than 70 searches in Kyiv and the surrounding region. Equipment, ingredients and finished products were seized, with an estimated value of about UAH 30 million. According to preliminary estimates, the budget may have lost about UAH 20 million in excise tax due to the sale of these products.