The Bureau of Economic Security (BES) has initiated a criminal case regarding the assault on law enforcement officers during investigative actions at the Vynnyky Tobacco Factory in Lviv region, according to its press service.

"Yesterday evening in Vynnyky, Lviv region, during investigative actions conducted by detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security on the premises of the tobacco factory, a group of unidentified individuals aggressively obstructed law enforcement officers while they were performing their official duties," the BES reported on Telegram.

According to law enforcement, around 50 men of athletic build, along with factory representatives, forcibly expelled patrol police and BES officers from the factory premises and prevented them from entering the building to conduct a search. Simultaneously, some individuals illegally removed products from the search site and loaded them into a vehicle. They also attempted to take away tobacco products that had already been seized in accordance with the inspection protocol.

The patrol officers' demand to cease illegal actions was ignored, and their service vehicle was blocked. Subsequently, unidentified individuals began jumping on the vehicle and engaging in other hooligan actions, using force against law enforcement officers. Two patrol officers sustained injuries and are currently in the hospital, according to the report.

A criminal case has been opened under Part 2 of Article 345 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The pretrial investigation is ongoing.

The BES said that investigative actions at the factory are being conducted in accordance with the law, within the framework of a court order, and in compliance with the requirements of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.

Currently, according to the Bureau, factory representatives and other individuals continue to obstruct law enforcement officers in conducting investigative actions and ignore the investigative judge's order to search warehouse and production premises.

The Vynnyky Tobacco Factory's press service, in turn, released a statement through several media outlets about the unlawful blockade of the enterprise by law enforcement agencies for more than 60 days without any explanation.

According to the press service, the factory continues to operate and has paid over UAH 1 billion in taxes for May and June. About 170 employees are manually moving legally compliant products, loading them into transport, while the BES seizes them. The factory has won a court case to reclaim 20,000 boxes of products and has sold them.

"The Vynnyky Tobacco Factory cannot interpret the situation other than as a grossly fabricated and falsified order against the enterprise by a notorious businessman, a market participant residing in Odesa, closely connected with Russian entrepreneur Igor Kesaev. He has coordinated his activities with a newly established tobacco company in Lviv region with foreign capital, which continues to operate actively in Russia," the factory stated, expressing outrage over the lack of any charges.

Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy Danylo Hetmantsev announced on Telegram that in the coming weeks, the committee will hear a report from law enforcement agencies conducting investigative actions on the tobacco market.

"The best evidence of the BES' effectiveness in tackling the illegal tobacco market is the numerous commissioned media attacks from 'honest and transparent' tobacco producers suffering from law enforcement arbitrariness," he wrote, adding that he supports the factory's demand for charges to be brought.