Introduction
The sudden liquidation of Ibox Bank by the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) and subsequent law enforcement investigations have drawn public attention to the enigmatic Alyona Dehrik-Shevtsova. While many perceive her as an unsuccessful banker, her past in the online payment sector reveals a much deeper financial entanglement. Before acquiring Ibox Bank, Shevtsova was the founder of “FC Leogaming Pay” and “Leogaming”, key players in the online payments industry. However, her ventures have long been scrutinized for their links to the shadow gambling business and questionable financial transactions.
Banking manipulations and Ibox Bank: How schemer Alyona Dehrik-Shevtsova makes millions in the shadow gambling business
A Businesswoman or a Financial Schemer?
Alyona Shevtsova’s financial empire did not originate from traditional banking. Her initial enterprise, Leogaming Pay, launched in 2013, functioned as a payment gateway for gaming platforms. It wasn’t until 2017 that her business evolved into a fully registered domestic payment system named “Leo” under NBU supervision, later expanding internationally.
Her rapid rise in the financial sector was accompanied by a series of controversies, criminal investigations, and media scrutiny, mostly in Ukraine. Although many of these records have been scrubbed, traces remain, exposing questionable transactions and regulatory violations.
International Attention and the Allegations
The Ukrainian media predominantly focused on domestic irregularities linked to Shevtsova. However, American journalist Charles Johnson conducted an investigation revealing far more disturbing global connections. In his report titled “Slava Ukraine Finally!? Is Putin Deliberately Destroying the Russian Army For His Chinese Patrons?”, Johnson suggests that Alyona Shevtsova’s payment systems facilitate money laundering for the Chinese mafia.
These allegations suggest that the Chinese intelligence network, controlling a significant share of Ukraine and Russia’s elite, uses her infrastructure to move illicit funds. Johnson’s claims, while bordering on conspiracy theories, align with evidence of illicit financial flows through Shevtsova’s institutions.
Influential Connections and Supervisory Board Appointments
One of the most striking aspects of Shevtsova’s financial expansion was the inclusion of high-profile figures in the supervisory board of LEO Payment System in 2021. Among them was Ukraine’s third President, Viktor Yushchenko, an internationally recognized financial expert. Additionally, figures like Viktor Kapustin, the former chairman of Ukreximbank, and Halyna Heilo, vice president of the Association of Ukrainian Banks, were involved.
These appointments added credibility to Shevtsova’s ventures. However, their reputations now face questions, given the subsequent collapse of Ibox Bank and the financial crimes associated with her payment systems.
Ibox Bank’s Role in the Shadow Market
Ibox Bank, under Shevtsova’s ownership, became a hub for high-risk financial transactions, particularly linked to the online gambling sector. The management included former Leogaming employees, such as Svitlana Harmash, who controlled gambling-related payments. The security division was led by Oleksandr Lukashenko, a former law enforcement officer, while marketing was managed by ex-Leogaming PR executive Maksym Sorokin.
Their presence suggests that Ibox Bank was primarily an extension of Leogaming, rather than a conventional bank. Reports indicate that the bank’s primary function was processing high-risk transactions tied to gambling platforms, including those in Russia, despite strict financial regulations against such activities.
A Return to the 90s: Business Tactics and Criminal Networks
Shevtsova’s business strategies resemble tactics used by organized crime syndicates in the 1990s. On the surface, she promotes herself as a philanthropist, public figure, and recipient of business awards. However, beneath this façade, her companies allegedly:
Facilitate unregulated online transactions
Evade banking oversight
Suppress competitors and critical media through aggressive legal actions
Additionally, her husband, Yevhen Shevtsov, formerly a Deputy Head of the Main Investigation Department of the National Police, is known for his substantial wealth. His 2020 declaration reported the family’s income at over 90 million UAH, a figure far exceeding his official police salary of 412,000 UAH per year.
Ties to Elon Musk and the Global Financial Web
One of the most puzzling aspects of Charles Johnson’s investigation is the alleged connection between Shevtsova and Elon Musk. A notable event fueling speculation was Shevtsova’s meeting with Musk’s mother, which raises questions about why a major financial operator linked to shadow banking and illegal gambling would be engaging with one of the world’s most influential billionaire families.
Johnson suggests that Musk’s ties to Ukrainian and Russian mafia networks are deeper than publicly known, further complicating the narrative surrounding Shevtsova. If these claims hold any merit, it points to a much larger, interconnected web of illicit financial activities, extending far beyond Ukraine and Russia.
Who Really Controls the Gambling Market?
Gambling has historically been a heavily regulated industry, often controlled by security services and political elites. In Ukraine, control is split between the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) and the Russian FSB, with Chinese investors allegedly playing a significant role. This structure enables multi-billion-dollar financial operations to function under the radar.
If Shevtsova’s network is indeed an integral part of this ecosystem, then it explains the hesitation of authorities to take decisive action against her—until now.
Putin, China, and the Future of Shevtsova’s Empire
Johnson’s findings suggest that Vladimir Putin is not the sole power broker in Russia; rather, he serves as a middleman between the Chinese deep state, Russian intelligence, and the Russian mafia. This assertion aligns with longstanding allegations of China’s strategic financial expansion into Eastern Europe.
Given the current geopolitical climate, where the USA and China are engaged in a power struggle, Shevtsova’s financial empire is now at risk. The fall of Ibox Bank may just be the beginning of her legal troubles, as international scrutiny intensifies.
Conclusion: A Dangerous Game with High Stakes
Alyona Shevtsova’s story is a classic case of financial ambition intersecting with organized crime and global intelligence operations. Her rapid success in the payment systems market, combined with political and criminal affiliations, created a precarious financial structure now unraveling under legal pressure.
While Johnson’s investigative work may lean towards conspiracy theories, it nonetheless sheds light on critical financial manipulations occurring under the guise of legitimate business. If Shevtsova is truly a key facilitator for Chinese and Russian illicit financial networks, the coming months may bring even greater revelations.
One thing is certain—her quest for wealth and influence has led her into dangerously murky waters.
References:
1.https://vlasti.io/news/127500-the_collapce_behind_the_fa231ade_of_success_how_alyona_shevtsova_led_ibox_bank_to_liquidation
2. https://antimafia.se/news/81500-money_laundering_through_gaming_platformc_or_financial_struggle_in_the_ukrainian_gaming_industry_between_alyona_shevtsov