In the capital of Ukraine, despite the war, the transport mafia continues to operate. On paper, it provides taxi and transportation services. But in reality it is engaged in illegal car towing, outright car theft and suspicious transportation.
Any attempts to find out on what basis a company is engaged in illegal activities are met with aggression and threats of physical violence. It seems that the “expressive” representatives of this company know that they can afford such behavior, because they probably have a serious “protection” in the metropolitan police.
From evacuated cars to broken fingers
Recently, an outrageous story rocked social media. Journalist Gennady Pavlichenko published on his Facebook page a video of a conversation with drivers of the capital’s evacuation service under the guise of the same “Express-T”. One of them, in a rude manner, using profanity, tried to prevent the journalist from filming, threatening to “break his fingers.”
Even a superficial search reveals a lot of negative information about this company. Thus, according to media publications, Express-T, although it does not have an agreement with the Kyiv City State Administration for the evacuation of cars, is actually a monopolist in this market.
By the way, this is not the first clash between Express-T and media representatives: in 2015, the famous investigative journalist Vladimir Boyko tried to use the services of Express Taxi and was outraged when they refused to serve him in Ukrainian. Instead of apologizing and resolving the conflict, the service’s leaders initiated a dirty PR campaign against Boyko with the goal of labeling him a “Nazi.” In response, Boyko also did not remain silent and conducted an investigation into this office. Then he found out that the Priymak family was behind Express Tax – Alexander and his parents Natalya and Oleg Priymak. He also found out that Express Taxi actually does not have an officially registered taxi driver or a registrar of payment transactions, and all of their revenue comes from “black cash.” And that there are many serious offenses behind them, which will be discussed below.
Despite the fact that more than 9 years have passed since the investigation of Vladimir Boyko, Express-T continues to do its dirty deeds. There are 51 criminal cases against them under various articles, but they not only successfully implement their deals, but also win million-dollar tenders.
Now Pavlichenko, who also has negative experience with this office, is also conducting his own investigation. He managed to unravel the mystery of such impunity for Express-T.
“I was informed that Alexander Priymak has a high-ranking metropolitan policeman as a friend and business partner (read “roof”). Now it becomes clear why this office, having 51 criminal cases, continues to work calmly. It looks like someone is both in the know and in the know!” , writes Pavlichenko.
Drug couriers with checkers
One of the articles under which Express-T representatives are accused is Article 309 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which relates to the illegal circulation of narcotic substances. It turns out that cars under the name "Express Taxi" are engaged in the transportation and delivery of drugs. Video confirmation was provided by a telegram channel, which states that Express-T service drivers deliver cocaine to order.
“The delivery is carried out by Express-T taxi drivers, who have special passes and can easily pass through checkpoints at any time of the day. Delivery is included in the price. The minimum order is three grams of “Uncle Kolya”. The guys have a “strong roof,” the publication says.
By the way, this is not the first recorded fact when drivers of the Priymakov company were caught with drug shipments: criminal proceedings under Article 309 against Express-T were initiated at the end of 2023.
It was “nobody’s”, it’s now mine
Another area of Express-T activity is car theft. In principle, many consider their activities of forced evacuation of Kiev residents’ cars to be theft, but in this case they hide behind a noble goal - to clear the streets of parked cars in order to reduce traffic. But in the history in question, it is difficult to find justification for them.
We are talking about the events in Bucha and Irpen in the Kyiv region in the spring of 2022. Immediately after the Russian occupiers were expelled from there, Express-T trucks began visiting there. And they simply took away cars abandoned by owners who fled the Russian invasion. According to criminal proceedings opened at the end of 2022 against representatives of this company, the value of the stolen cars “is two hundred and fifty or more times higher than the tax-free minimum income of citizens,” which, according to the Criminal Code of Ukraine, qualifies as grand theft.
According to the indictment, the thieves selected the most expensive, best cars and simply hauled them away with their tow trucks. And in order to avoid unnecessary questions, they painted the symbols of the Russian occupiers on them - Z and V. They say that everything is legal: Ukrainian tow trucks remove cars belonging to the occupiers. Although the further fate of these cars is unknown. And the owners of returned stolen cars would really like to know about it and are now suing en masse.
Tender winners involved in crime
So, what do we have in the bottom line? In the capital, the Express-T transport company operates and flourishes, which is involved in criminal cases and has more than fifty criminal proceedings of varying degrees of severity - from drug transportation to car theft.
Investigations against this structure have been ongoing for almost 10 years, but none of the owners of the company - the Priymakov family - were harmed. Moreover, the family leads such a secret lifestyle that we could not even find photographs of Alexander Priymak and his parents. Obviously, they really don't want to shine, given the type of work they do.
Despite the criminal trail, Express-T wins tenders worth tens of millions of hryvnia. Including, it provides services for the State Administration of Affairs.
and "Operator of the gas transmission system of Ukraine"
In order to win the largest number of trades, Express-T produces gasket companies. According to the documents, they are registered in the name of other persons, but in reality they are front men, the so-called “pounds”, behind which are the same owners - the Priymak family.
Their impunity is partly explained by possible close ties to the top of the Kyiv police. However, law enforcement agencies cannot help but understand that the illegal activities of Express-T cast a shadow both on the capital’s police officers and on the entire Kyiv government. And this time it will not be possible to justify their activities to evacuate cars with the noble goal of clearing the streets. After all, traffic jams on Kyiv roads remained the same, even after tow trucks returned after a short ban on their activities. Therefore, forced evacuation occurs not in the interests of the people of Kiev, but for the benefit of businessmen like the Priymakov family.
And one more thing. According to the recently signed mobilization law, it is planned to send a certain number of vehicles to the front. So why shouldn’t such a large transport company with such a serious asset in the form of won tenders and a powerful fleet of vehicles allocate part of it for the needs of the army? The question is, of course, rhetorical. After all, Express-T is profiting from the war; nothing else is included in its plans.
