Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has enacted sanctions against several individuals and companies connected to the Russian-linked Pin-Up online casino. This move follows a decision by Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council. It targets both people and businesses. These individuals and entities are allegedly involved in supporting Russia’s war efforts through financial operations.
The sanctions, which will last for ten years, focus primarily on asset freezes. Among the individuals named are Dmitry Punin, Ivan Bannikov, and Oleksandr Matyashov—all residents of Russia. Authorities accuse them of maintaining financial interests in the online gambling platform.
Authorities have also sanctioned a range of legal entities affiliated with the Pin-Up brand. These include Ukrainian-registered companies such as UKR GAME TECHNOLOGY, TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT, TURBO.UA, and VICTORIA-SOFT. Authorities also targeted foreign entities connected to the casino. They placed companies in Cyprus—GURFLOW TEAM LRD, PIPROSE HOLDING LTD, MONAK LIMITED, V.WI BLACK-WOOD LIMITED—and in Curacao (Carlette NV) under restrictions.
In a parallel development, Zelenskyy approved another sanctions list. This list included Oleksandr Boguslaev, the son of the former president of Motor Sich, and former Member of Parliament Ihor Mosiychuk.
On December 5 of last year, Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) announced suspicions of Russian money laundering and support for the aggressor state. The accusations targeted three Russian citizens, identified as the beneficial owners of the Pin-Up online casino. They also named two Ukrainians—one as the company director and the other as the holder of its trademark and domain.
On February 14 of this year, the SBI detained the Ukrainian director of the company operating under the Pin-Up brand. This action intensified Ukraine’s crackdown on entities suspected of funding Russia’s war against Ukraine.
