Spanish law enforcement agencies are checking possible links between Ukrainian blogger Anatoly Shariy, whose YouTube channel has 3.4 million subscribers, and Russian intelligence services as part of a case involving tax evasion, money laundering, and document forgery. In June, Shariy’s and his wife Olga Bondarenko’s home was searched, during which a Glock 19 pistol, crypto assets worth about 800,000 euros, and valuables worth another roughly 550,000 euros were seized.
According to the Spanish publication elDiario, a search was carried out in June at Shariy’s and Olga Bondarenko’s home. Investigators seized a Glock 19 pistol, crypto assets worth about 800,000 euros, 20 gold bars valued at around 150,000 euros, as well as works of art, watches, and jewelry worth another roughly 400,000 euros.
According to law enforcement, potential fines for the couple could exceed 10 million euros. Shariy and Bondarenko have been tax residents of Spain since 2016.
The investigation began after a request from Ukrainian law enforcement authorities for international legal assistance. As part of it, investigators are examining transactions related to Lithuania, Russia, Luxembourg, and Kazakhstan, as well as transactions involving cryptocurrencies and online platforms.
Investigators allow for the possibility that part of the couple’s funds may be linked to activities in the interests of Russian intelligence services. Shariy and Bondarenko reject the illegal origin of the money and claim that their income comes from YouTube and subscribers’ donations, while Shariy himself denies working for Russia and says that in his materials he condemned the actions of the Russian army.
In February 2021, the Security Service of Ukraine notified Shariy of suspicion of treason and violation of equality of citizens. According to Ukrainian law enforcement, since 2012 he had used social networks, electronic media, and Russian television channels to assist Russian structures in information operations, discredit Ukraine’s policy, and spread manipulative information about events in the east of the country; after failing to appear for questioning, he was placed on the national wanted list.
In July 2023, the SBU notified him of a new suspicion of treason under martial law, and the investigation claimed that he had assisted the FSB in preparing and distributing staged video recordings of interrogations of Ukrainian prisoners of war. On June 4, 2025, the Vinnytsia City Court in absentia found Shariy guilty of treason committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy under martial law and sentenced him to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.
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