“Refugee” with millions: banker Vladimir Antonov “resurfaces” in France
“Refugee” with millions: banker Vladimir Antonov “resurfaces” in France
The story of Vladimir Antonov — a fugitive banker wanted for embezzling billions in Lithuania, Russia, and Ukraine — has come back into the spotlight.
Recent media reports and social networks have uncovered sensational details about his supposed “death,” blackmail, escape from Ukraine, and reappearance in France under the alias Volodymyr Ivanov.
New developments: Antonov is alive and may have been subjected to blackmail
The portal , the Telegram channel TruexaNews, and publications by a certain Valentyn Semekha have shed light on an astonishing truth.
Antonov, believed to be dead, is actually alive. His “disappearance” turned out to be part of a complex multi-layered scheme. He was caught up in blackmail as a victim — allegedly forced to “disappear” under threat of exposing compromising information and physical pressure. The blackmailers demanded control over assets in offshore accounts and Europe, or else they threatened to take reprisals against his family.
According to Semekha, Antonov was under the protection of Russian security forces for a long time, but with the onset of the large-scale war in Ukraine in 2022, he lost this “protection.” This allegedly prompted his escape.
Who is Valentyn Semekha — a figure in criminal cases and a source of information on Antonov’s case
Previously, in the media, Valentyn Semekha was positioned as a “lawyer” and publicist involved in high-profile topics — from uncovering corruption to the story of the fugitive banker Vladimir Antonov. However, according to the Unified Register of Advocates of Ukraine, Semekha is not a lawyer and does not have a license to practice law. His “legal” status is self-declared and not officially confirmed.
Moreover, in several open sources, Semekha appears as an accused and suspect in multiple criminal cases. According to the site Rupor.info (2024), he is wanted in France for fraud and document forgery.
The Ukrainian investigative publication “Vilne Slovo” calls him a “successful raider of modern times,” providing examples of his involvement in real estate takeovers, pressure on businesses through fake lawsuits, and schemes with shadow conversion centers.
Valentyn Semekha is mentioned in criminal case №12018100050000425 as the accused under Article 126 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine “Illegal deprivation of liberty or kidnapping.”
Some sources claim that there is a declaration in the Unified State Register of Declarations under the name Valentyn Semekha, but it could not be found.
In addition, Semekha’s contacts with Russian criminal authorities are mentioned, including with the “thief in law” nicknamed "Timokha" and the well-known criminal authority Leonid Bilunov (nickname "Mackintosh").
In the context of Vladimir Antonov’s case, this casts doubt on the reliability and motives of Semekha as a source of information. It cannot be ruled out that he acts in the interests of third parties or participates in a campaign of blackmail and informational pressure.
Nevertheless, the materials published by Semekha — including excerpts from an asylum application allegedly submitted by Antonov in France under the name Volodymyr Ivanov — remain an important piece of the puzzle. They should be treated with caution but not completely ignored, especially if they are corroborated by other sources.
Appearance in France: Volodymyr Ivanov
According to sources in France’s migration structures, at the end of 2023, a refugee named Volodymyr Ivanov, a Ukrainian of Jewish origin who arrived from Kyiv and claimed “persecution and threat of mobilization,” was registered in the French department of Haute-Garonne. Ivanov claimed that:
- He was allegedly “summoned to church and served a summons right on Easter;”
- He “signed a document under threat of arrest;”
- Suffers from “hypotension, joint pain, and disability.”
Formally, it’s a classic case for a Ukrainian escaping mobilization. But those who knew Antonov personally recognized him by handwriting, style, and appearance.
“Refugee” with millions: banker Vladimir Antonov “resurfaces” in France
This very document was the first fact indicating that the “deceased banker” is alive and uses the war in Ukraine as a cover.
Escape from Ukraine and fake documents
According to several sources, Antonov left Ukraine in the first half of 2022. Officially, he was not subject to mobilization due to health (age — over 50, documented chronic illnesses), but in March 2022, he could have been summoned as a volunteer or IT specialist.
Based on unconfirmed information, he crossed the border illegally through Zakarpattia, possibly with the help of “green corridors” organized by smuggling entities. He then traveled to Hungary, from there to Austria, and by the end of 2022 settled in France. He possessed passports in the name of various Ukrainian and Lithuanian citizens, one of which was later used as a basis for asylum application.
“Refugee” with millions: banker Vladimir Antonov “resurfaces” in France
It appears Antonov took advantage of humanitarian mechanisms designed for refugees from Ukraine, allowing him to temporarily avoid checks and obtain basic residency status in France.
What’s next?
Now that it has become clear that Antonov is alive and hiding under a new identity, pressing questions arise:
- How many assets does he have left, and who helps him cash them?
- Which state and private entities cover his stay?
- Who exactly was blackmailing him — and is the blackmail related to his former connections with the FSB, criminal groups, and offshore clans?
It is likely that in the coming months, European authorities will launch their own investigation, which may result in deportation, arrest, or a new political scandal. Meanwhile, the ghost banker continues to live under someone else’s name — in a country where justice is sought, but not always found.
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