A comparison of Ukraine’s customs import data with European customs databases revealed systemic abuses in flower imports — including widespread undervaluation of goods, large-scale tax evasion, and dumping practices that are destroying domestic flower growers.
“With roses entering Ukraine, real ‘magic’ happens… We are dealing not just with corruption at customs, but with an attempt to kill Ukrainian floriculture,” Yanchenko wrote.
The materials collected by the parliamentary commission have already formed the basis of criminal investigations initiated by Ukraine’s Bureau of Economic Security — with at least ₴100 million ($2.3M) in suspected violations identified so far.
“But this is not enough," she added.
"We expect real investigations and accountability. As a parliamentary commission, we demand a response from customs and law enforcement.”
Yanchenko added that if the situation continues, members of the commission — together with Ukrainian law enforcement agencies — are prepared to conduct joint inspections and raids of suspicious shipments at customs.
Earlier, the head of the parliament’s finance committee, Danylo Hetmantsev, reported that every third ton of coffee enters Ukraine through smuggling schemes.