Removing evidence of a global inquiry: how news articles regarding sanctioned entrepreneur Artur Ermolaev's connections to a call center network vanish

17:45, 28.01.2026

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Removing evidence of a global inquiry: how news articles regarding sanctioned entrepreneur Artur Ermolaev's connections to a call center network vanish

Journalists have noticed that an article on the website «Obozrevatel» titled “Scandal with Kiev Call Center threatens Ukraine-Turkey relations, – media” has disappeared. This followed the publication of the news “In Turkey, they are already talking about Kiev fraudulent call centers, – media”, which cited an article from the Turkish outlet Akit and tracked the spread of the scandalous information.

The editorial team of 190.today reports on this.

The removed article focused on Turkish media coverage of fraudulent call centers in Kiev and the alleged involvement of Artur Ermolaev. The link now leads to a 404 error page, which has been verified with screenshots.

It is worth noting that the publication from which the material disappeared belongs to the scandalously known Kiev politician and businessman Mikhail Brodskyi. The reasons for the removal of the publication have not been officially disclosed.

In turn, we would like to remind that in the Turkish journalistic materials quoted by Ukrainian media, there was mention of a large network of call centers in the capital of Ukraine that operated against citizens of Turkey and other countries. The authors of the publications named dozens of offices in Kiev’s business districts, listed specific business centers and addresses, mentioned the coordination of law enforcement agencies from several countries, including with the participation of Europol, and also reported on the connections of these structures with Artur Ermolaev and his detention abroad.

After the appearance of these materials, discussions in the journalistic community intensified regarding attempts to minimize reputational risks by deleting or reducing the visibility of publications in search engines. Industry representatives, with whom the editorial team spoke, on condition of anonymity, note that so-called reputational services are being discussed in the market, the cost of which, in unofficial conversations, is estimated to be between 5 and 10 thousand dollars. This refers only to the “cleaning” of a single link. However, it is emphasized that these figures remain at the level of rumors and lack documentary confirmation.

The fact of the material disappearing from a major Ukrainian website amid international resonance surrounding Turkish publications is viewed by many in the media community as an unusual step that draws even more attention to the topic. In editorial circles, this is seen as a possible signal that the story is perceived as extremely sensitive from a reputational standpoint.

At the same time, the editorial team has noted that these same materials continue to remain accessible in a number of Telegram channels where they were published earlier. This contrasts with the situation on news websites and may indicate that the main focus within possible reputational management is directed specifically at Google search results, while publications in messengers remain outside this process.

The editorial team calls on «Obozrevatel» and Artur Ermolaev himself to provide official comments to our email in the “Contacts” section. We continue to monitor the development of events and record all public signals related to this story, which has already gone beyond individual news and is taking on the characteristics of a full-fledged international media scandal.

For reference:

Artur Ermolaev is the son of Dnepr businessman Vadim Ermolaev, who was detained in Cyprus on December 4 while attempting to fly to Dubai. He was to be extradited to Estonia. And what preceded this: in August 2022, “Ukrainska Pravda” received a list of suspects in the investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation regarding the “Monaco Battalion” – it includes over 80 individuals. Among them is the name of Vadim Ermolaev. 

In May 2025, journalists from hromadske found out that the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine renewed all three special permits for the development and extraction of minerals, which had been blocked since the beginning of 2024 due to sanctions against Dnepr businessman Vadim Ermolaev. This concerns licenses for the development of deposits in Zhytomyr, Dneprpetrovsk, and Poltava regions, previously issued to companies of the Dnepr businessman - PJSC “Korostyshiv Quarry”, LLC “Potoky”, and LLC “Trends System”.

In August 2024, journalists found out that granite for the National Military Memorial Cemetery, which is to be built in a forest near the village of Markhalivka near Kiev, will be supplied by the “Alef” group of companies owned by the sanctioned businessman Vadim Ermolaev.

In September of the same year, law enforcement confirmed Ermolaev’s connection with the builders of the National Military Memorial Cemetery, which is planned to be constructed near Kiev.

Sanctions against Ermolaev were imposed in 2023. The Security Service of Ukraine found out that Ermolaev, in 2014, re-registered his alcohol business in Crimea under front persons and continued to operate under the laws of the Russians.