Suspect in the OPP case, Horbunenko, detained in the USA, - media

Suspect in the OPP case, Horbunenko, detained in the USA, - media

The co-owner of the company "Agro Gas Trading," suspected by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine of involvement in a "scheme" at the Odesa Port Plant, Oleksandr Horbunenko, was detained in the USA. However, after one of the interrogations by NABU and SAPO, he was released and placed under protection.

According to the materials of the criminal case against Horbunenko, which was considered in the US Federal Court during 2024–2025, Horbunenko arrived in the USA on a tourist visa a few days before the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine – on February 15, 2022.

In April 2022, he requested temporary protection, likely due to the war, and was granted it.

In April 2023, NABU declared Horbunenko wanted. A few months later, the suspect in Ukraine requested the US to extend his refugee status but did not mention in the documents that he was wanted.

Subsequently, NABU and SAPO informed a US immigration service equivalent – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – that Horbunenko was a suspect and might be in Florida.

On October 3, 2024, HSI Agent Ihor Demidov located and interrogated Horbunenko in Miami. At the beginning of 2025, Horbunenko’s refugee status was revoked. Later, Agent Demidov filed a criminal complaint in court, and Judge Angelique Lett signed a warrant for his arrest.

"The very next day, Horbunenko suddenly decided to fly to the world’s best hideout from extraditions – Dubai, but he didn’t make it. On April 17, 2025, he was detained right at the airport. He explained that he planned to ’return,’ but was taken into custody," the article states.

According to sources of UP in law enforcement, while in custody, representatives of NABU and SAPO attempted to officially contact Horbunenko for an interrogation.

"During one of the interactions, questions about Tymur Mindich were raised. Subsequently, FBI representatives suddenly removed Horbunenko from custody, and instead of deportation, a fine, or imprisonment, the individual was released and placed under protection. This may indicate that Horbunenko has cooperated with the Americans," the article notes.

According to a representative of the Ukrainian law enforcement system, "Horbunenko could have been laundering money, just like all other participants in the OPP scheme," so "it is obvious that he may be of interest to the feds not only in the context of Mindich but also regarding other influential users of money laundering schemes."

According to UP, the latest entry in the publicly available materials on this case is dated July 26, 2025.

"Coincidentally, this is the same period when the Office of the President, with the help of parliament, was attempting to undermine the independence of NABU and SAPO," the article points out.