EUAM Brings Regional Partners Together in Dnipro to Discuss Organised Crime
September 28, 2026
Cybercrime, cryptocurrency and cross-border networks are reshaping organised crime — and the response must keep pace. EU Advisory Mission (EUAM) Ukraine is working with frontline regions to support them in identifying practical gaps that could hinder effective investigations.
On 14-15 September in Dnipro, EUAM Ukraine’s Mobile Unit organised two roundtables, bringing together prosecutors, police investigators, criminal analysts and cybercrime specialists from Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Together, they examined the challenges law enforcement is facing and the capabilities needed to respond more effectively.
The discussions centred on cybercrime, online fraud, cryptocurrency, cross-border financial flows, drug and weapons trafficking, and other forms of organised crime with an increasingly transnational dimension. Participants also considered how these threats may evolve after the war.
Such exchanges with regional partners help build a clearer picture of the realities law-enforcement practitioners face in each region and the pressures shaping their investigations.
In Dnipropetrovsk region, one of the main concerns is the growing use of cryptocurrency to conceal criminal proceeds. Investigators also pointed to difficulties in tracing assets abroad and delays linked to international cooperation. At the same time, regional prosecutors shared examples of how Joint Investigation Teams and other cooperation tools had helped advance complex cases.
In Zaporizhzhia region, proximity to the frontline adds further pressure. Practitioners identified gaps in cybercrime and cryptocurrency investigations, international cooperation and financial expertise. They also raised concerns about the possible misuse of reconstruction funds and how organised crime may adapt in the post-war period.
“The nature of organised crime is changing quickly, and investigators increasingly need to follow money, digital evidence and criminal networks across borders,” said Christopher Elliott, EUAM Criminal Investigations Adviser on Organised Crime. “These discussions support our partners in identifying practical gaps and help us understand where targeted advisory support from the Mission can strengthen investigative capabilities.”
The priorities identified by practitioners will inform EUAM Ukraine’s follow-up advisory support and continued engagement with regional partners.
