The illegal import of iPhones in Ukraine declined by 20% for the first time since 2022, falling to 60% of units sold, Vitaliy Pavlik, General Manager of ASBIS-Kyiv, said in an interview with Forbes Ukraine.
Pavlik, who heads the only authorized Apple distributor in Ukraine, noted the figure had previously exceeded 80%.
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The illegal import of iPhones in Ukraine declined by 20%, reaching 60% in terms of units, Pavlik said. The figure previously comprised 80%, declining for the first time since 2022.
Pavlik’s former employer, the Comfy retail chain, had earlier accused several other chains of selling Apple products before their official release dates and distributing them without paying taxes, undermining fair competition. The share of illegal imports grew from the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022 through 2025.
The issue of tax compliance is particularly pressing as Ukraine seeks ways to finance its defense costs, which may fall short by June.
“If the black market for iPhones is 60%, more can be done. But if it was 80% and became 60%, that is already a movement,” Pavlik told Forbes Ukraine. “We see concrete actions that businesses experience.”
He expressed “cautious optimism” that the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB), tax authorities, and customs have begun cracking down on illegal gadget sales.
Pavlik explained that smugglers typically exploit currency differences across markets, sourcing products primarily from Europe, where margins are highest. The price gap between legal and illegal sellers is driven by unpaid taxes – specifically the 20% Value Added Tax (VAT).
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The ASBIS-Kyiv general manager declined to name specific companies violating the law, but noted that his company’s assessments and those of the State Tax Service generally align.
Ukraine’s law enforcement deshadows the illegal gadget market
The Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) reported progress in cracking down on illegal gadget sales between September and December 2025
- Legal transactions increased by 53.4%
- Legally reported sales volumes rose from Hr. 15.3 billion ($347.7 million) to Hr. 23.5 billion ($534 million)
- Receipts issued to customers grew by 23.7%
The average receipt value also climbed from Hr.2,300 ($52.2) to Hr.2,900 ($65.9) – a 24% rise that signals more expensive goods are now being sold through legal channels.
BEB seized nearly 29,000 gadgets worth Hr.374.3 million ($8.5 million) as part of its broader effort to combat the shadow economy.
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