Journalists in a new investigation noticed many expensive cars with Ukrainian license plates. At the same time, some citizens who remained in the kingdom during the war began to change their registration to foreign ones in order to avoid unnecessary attention.
While a full-scale war continues in Ukraine, refugees with VIP status continue to enjoy life in some of the most expensive resorts in the world. This is stated in an investigation by TSN journalists dated August 21.
VIP refugees during the war: expensive cars and casinos in Monaco
Most often, representatives of the political elite and families of officials choose the Cote d'Azur of France. In particular, this is the Principality of Monaco and nearby cities.
According to the Monaco Red Cross, as of July of this year, assistance was provided to 458 Ukrainian refugees, 260 of whom remained inside the microstate.
For example, near the Casino in Monte Carlo, journalists noticed a vehicle that belongs to Dmitry Davtyan. He is a co-owner of the investment group, ex-deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration and the son of the deputy of the Kharkov City Council of the 7th convocation Alexander Davtyan.
TSN notes that Alexander and his entire family left Ukraine shortly before the start of a full-scale war.
A few minutes later, another car with Ukrainian license plates drove by the casino. It belongs to designer Irina Marchuk, who created the most expensive dress in Ukraine - with 109 carats of diamonds, gold and Swarovski stones. Now she sells her clothes on the French Riviera, as journalists noted in their investigation.
VIP refugees during the war: the family of ex-customs officer Gribanov
In the village of Cap d'Ail, which is located just three kilometers from the kingdom of Monaco, journalists noticed a Porsche car worth three million hryvnia, which was purchased in Kyiv just a month before the full-scale invasion.
The vehicle is registered to the wife of the ex-head of Odessa customs Mikhail Gribanov, Irina.
Journalists recalled that in 2020 the man was appointed to the position even though in 2012 he was involved in an electronic smuggling case. He worked for only 2 months, after which he was detained due to corruption and subsequently fired. Then he denied involvement in the crime, and in 2021 he was included in the National Security and Defense Council list.
Where he is now is unknown. Journalists tried to contact his family near Monaco, but they locked themselves in the house.
By the way, another Ukrainian car was spotted not far from the house, which belongs to Irina Gribanova’s brother Vyacheslav Krasnorudsky. Their mother, on the Odnoklassniki social network, which has been blocked in Ukraine since 2017, shares footage from a luxurious vacation and leaves anti-Ukrainian messages.
None of the family members' phones are answered. Journalists were never able to contact them.
VIP refugees during the war: assistant to the deputy from "OPZZH"
We are talking about Vita Lyubovetskaya, who owns a Lexus car spotted on the Cote d'Azur. For a long time she was an assistant to the people’s deputy of the banned party “Opposition Platform - For Life” Viktor Cherny. Now on her personal blog she teaches people how to be positive.
