On the illegal border crossing by 'artists'. Searches were conducted of the former Deputy Minister of Culture.

Searches at the Ministry of Culture: Property seized from the former State Secretary

In February 2025, law enforcement conducted searches in the homes of officials from the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications. According to preliminary data, these actions were carried out as part of a criminal investigation into illegal border crossings.

Significant attention was focused on the former State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Yuriy Leshchuk, who held the position from 2022 to 2024. According to preliminary investigation findings, Leshchuk participated in approving letters that allowed individuals of conscription age to cross the border during martial law.

“The Ministry of Culture operated on trust and aimed to promote our culture abroad,” stated Rostislav Karandeev, the former head of the Ministry of Culture.

As a result of the searches, a laptop and two mobile phones belonging to Leshchuk were seized, and the court imposed a seizure on this property.

In June 2024, border guards detained nine individuals of conscription age who attempted to leave the country with counterfeit 'support letters'. Following this, the investigation began checking other similar documents from the Ministry of Culture and identified another 11 individuals who left the country and have not returned to Ukraine.

Similarly, in June 2024, another group of performers also left Ukraine and did not return.

“The investigation is ongoing, and a group that forged documents from the Ministry of Culture for border crossing has been uncovered,” reported Rostislav Karandeev.

Currently, Karandeev is not suspected of any crimes, and he has not received any summons for questioning.

Note that in March 2025, the government adopted a resolution regulating the departure of military-conscripted artists and media representatives abroad. They can now obtain permission for temporary departure from Ukraine according to established rules.

The border service emphasized that it will check the purposes of the trips for artists and media representatives abroad and can deny them permission to leave if necessary.