Market de-shadowing. Analytics

 The ESBU systematically implements measures to de-shadow product markets characterized by high levels of illegal circulation and significant fiscal impact on the state budget. The Bureau's activities are focused on identifying and disrupting economic crimes related to tax evasion, illegal manufacturing, smuggling, and the sale of goods without proper state oversight.

Primary attention is devoted to the markets for tobacco and alcohol products, fuel and lubricants, and electronics and household appliances—sectors that traditionally remain the most vulnerable to shadow schemes.

The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine:

• identifies and blocks illegal production and logistics chains, including clandestine workshops, illegal warehouses, and distribution channels;
• shuts down the operations of illegal retail outlets, specifically unauthorized gas stations and points of sale for alcohol and tobacco products lacking excise tax stamps;
• investigates large-scale tax schemes involving the use of shell companies, manipulation of inventory records, and fraudulent fiscal receipts;
• ensures the restitution of damages to the state budget, recovering millions of hryvnias in unpaid taxes;
• works in cooperation with legal businesses and other government agencies to develop joint solutions for reducing the shadow sector.

The ESBU's comprehensive measures are aimed not only at responding to committed offenses but also at crime prevention, as well as creating transparent and competitive market conditions, protecting bona fide entrepreneurs and consumers, and strengthening the state's economic security.

This section summarizes the analytical findings and practical ESBU case studies across specific areas of market de-shadowing.