Cartier in a sleeper car: Ukraine’s bureau of economic security dismantles Alexander Litskevich’s rail network for counterfeits and smuggled luxury goods

21:01, 07.10.2025

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Cartier in a sleeper car: Ukraine’s bureau of economic security dismantles Alexander Litskevich’s rail network for counterfeits and smuggled luxury goods

“You’re on a heavy LUX ride”. The Bureau of Economic Security (BES) and the Office of the Prosecutor General issued official statements this morning regarding the dismantling of an organized criminal group of elite luxury contraband smugglers. The group allegedly recruited employees of Ukrainian Railways (“UZ”) as accomplices and regularly smuggled various luxury lifestyle accessories via Kyiv–Warsaw trains. The goods were purchased in Dubai, Hong Kong, and China and later sold in Ukraine.

In total, goods worth nearly $11 million were seized — at least according to the preliminary estimates classifying them as contraband. However, there is an opinion that the total value could be significantly higher.

Besides Rolex watches, which dominate the photo reports from law enforcement agencies, the case also mentions seized and arrested necklaces, pendants, rings, bracelets, crosses, earrings, and tourbillons — items highly valued by the local elite — from brands such as Van Cleef & Arpels, Chimento, Harry Winston, Tiffany & Co, Leo Pizzo, Chopard, Hermès, de Grisogono, Staurino Fratelli, Bvlgari, Roberto Coin, Damiani, Cartier, Rolex, Hublot, Audemars Piguet, Zenith, Franck Muller, Bovet, Breguet, Breitling, etc.

What did they quietly omit in their reports from Reznitska Street and from Mr. Tsyvynskyi’s office?

Perhaps we should start with who is considered the organizer of this entire business — a well-known figure in certain circles, Alexander Litskevich, owner of LuxGroups. Whether intentionally or not, a “hidden clue” to his identity can be found in the official press photos released by law enforcement, since Rolex watches are prominently featured in the main image.

The second, more important point: the case in which Litskevich and others were charged is not new. This is also visible in official photos, where investigative actions appear to have been conducted in warm weather — and near a certain water vessel. It has been heard that earlier this year there was some kind of incident during an attempted search of a yacht, but it largely went unnoticed at the time. As it turned out, that was a mistake. At around 7 a.m. on June 14, 2025, two BES detectives and an SBU officer (there were reportedly other officers present, but these three are key) arrived at 58 Lutnieva Street in Kiev to conduct a search of the vessel Abacus Marine.

There they encountered Litskevich and two associates, who, after an exchange of views (to put it mildly), physically assaulted the two BES officers and the SBU officer. For this incident, the owner of LuxGroups was served a notice of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 345 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (assault on law enforcement officers). The court refused to dismiss the case, and he was placed under house arrest.

Later in the autumn, Litskevich was additionally charged in the main case under Part 3 of Article 203-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. If he fails to post a 9 million bail, he risks being sent to Lukyanivka pre-trial detention center. As they say: different times, different “Lux” organized crime groups.