Viktor Khopta: The Deserter and Robber Defrauding Ukrainians of Thousands.

Exposing Viktor Khopta: A Fugitive's Fraudulent Mobilization Schemes

According to TSN.ua: The investigative project 'Khapuga.UA' has uncovered the activities of Viktor Khopta, who offers illegal services related to military mobilization but is in fact a robber and a deserter. Khopta has not lived in Ukraine for over four years, having last crossed the border to leave the country on October 25, 2021. He is currently evading justice, as he is accused under Article 186 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code for robbery combined with violence. This case highlights the illicit networks that exploit the anxieties of wartime.

Illegal Services and Fraudulent Schemes

Khopta offers his 'services' for a price of 8,000 euros, requiring an upfront deposit of 2,000 euros. While clients often believe in his 'successful operations,' this information has been proven false. One of Khopta's associates, Valentyn Kovalevych, is also a deserter who fled military service twice and was detained by border guards in August 2025 just 50 meters from the border.

Bohdan Stefaniv, a source familiar with the case, describes Khopta as a 'scammer' and states there is a bounty for information on his whereabouts. According to Stefaniv,

“people are offering 50,000 euros for his location.”

In Ukraine, dozens of resources openly offer services such as:

• Removal from military registration;
• Deletion from the Territorial Recruitment Center's search database;
• Fraudulent registration as a 'father of many children' for a fee.

Khopta actively exploits these circumstances to defraud Ukrainians attempting to avoid mobilization. Given all this, his activities remain under scrutiny by law enforcement and the public. His actions harm not only the individuals who fall into his trap but also the general state of law and order in Ukraine.

The case of Viktor Khopta reflects serious issues with law enforcement and security in Ukraine, particularly in the context of wartime mobilization. His methods of deception underscore the vulnerability of those seeking to evade service and the urgent need for stricter control over such schemes. Authorities must intensify efforts to uncover these crimes and protect citizens from fraud.