40 billion in the shadow: a veteran vying for the position of head of the Bureau of Economic Security claims significant budget losses on fuel, tobacco, and alcohol.

Igor Shepetin: losses in the Ukrainian budget due to the shadow economy exceed 40 billion hryvnias annually

In his column, Igor Shepetin, a veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian war and a candidate for the position of director of the Bureau of Economic Security, stated that Ukraine loses over 40 billion hryvnias every year due to the shadow economy in the fuel, tobacco, and alcohol sectors.

Shepetin noted that to combat this phenomenon, it is necessary not only to stop small violations but also to identify and eliminate the most profitable schemes that fuel the shadow market.

"The shadow economy is not only lost taxes, it is also organized crime. What is needed here are not interrogations of small businesses, but real special operations: detection, elimination of the infrastructure, and holding accountable," he summarized.

According to Shepetin, it is important to act according to the logic of military operations: intelligence, strikes on key players, and maintaining positions to avoid the revival of schemes the following month.

The veteran urged the Bureau of Economic Security to focus on large schemes, as they are the ones that lead to losses of billions of hryvnias in the shadow sector. He emphasized the need to unravel 3-4 of the largest schemes for successful combat against the shadow economy.

"We must eliminate large schemes, not fight small sellers. We must act strategically, as the first priority. Only in this way can we win, and the Bureau of Economic Security will indeed provide revenues to the budget in the tens of billions of hryvnias," Igor Shepetin summed up.

Analysis

The news reveals an important aspect - significant budget losses due to the shadow economy, which requires serious attention and action. Igor Shepetin emphasized the need to stop the most profitable schemes that fuel the shadow market to ensure the country's financial stability. His proposals regarding the operation of the Bureau of Economic Security could become effective tools in the fight against the shadow economy.