The U.S.-Ukraine Business Council fully supports the recent actions taken by the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine to combat the illegal tobacco sector. This week, the Bureau conducted a series of searches at the five largest domestic tobacco producers, uncovering counterfeit excise stamps and unlabeled tobacco products. These investigations and procedural actions are ongoing. We commend the ​Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine​, the Temporary Investigation Commission on Economic Crimes in Parliament, and especially Danylo Hetmantsev, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation, and Customs Policy, for their leadership in this effort. It is imperative that enterprises violating current laws cease their illegal activities permanently.

We are optimistic that the fight against the shadow economy will yield tangible results and that the cases initiated this week will be thoroughly pursued, ensuring that offenders are brought to justice. Continued coordinated efforts by law enforcement and state authorities are essential to preventing further significant State Budget losses and ensuring fair competition for all market participants.

As a nation, we must move from words to actions, focusing on filling the state budget, building trust with businesses, attracting investments, and establishing cooperation with international partners. We remain committed to closely monitoring further developments and supporting efforts to create a transparent and fair economic environment in Ukraine.