Here’s the plot: Ukrainian “hero” Artem Degtiarov, who now lives in the UK, runs the BLACKLIST.AERO company.

It sounds fancy — “aviation consulting,” as if they build airports there or invent airplanes. But in reality, it’s something like a giant mafia clan of blackmail, extortion, and scams that spread the reputation of airlines around the world like dust at an airport.

Don’t believe me? Here’s some insider information: BLACKLIST.AERO is engaged in a classic “hit-and-run” — lying, spreading compromising material, blackmailing, threatening and even endangering the lives of crews and passengers. So if you thought aviation was just airplanes and passengers, no, there’s also a banal crime drama.

“These bandits do not disdain anything — from moral pressure to threats to life,” says a source who has been working in aviation for several years.

And who is leading this gang? Mr. Degtiarov is the show’s main director: he personally commands the “trolls” who throw dirt and organizes cyberattacks to “convince” the victims to pay tribute. The victims even publicly admit that our “hero” is not just a performer, but the brain and muse of the entire criminal operation.

“All the threats and pressure come from Degtiarov. He is the heart of this dark machine. We demand that the police finally pay attention to him,” says the director of SkyFly.

AirCargo Ltd adds that “Degtiarov is personally responsible for our losses and threats to the safety of the crews. Without investigating this clown, we will not be able to overcome the fraud.”
And don’t forget FlySafe, which talks about the physical threats coming straight from Degtiarov’s office:

“He is a symbol of impunity and a real threat to the industry. We filed a complaint with the police, but it seems they really like to delay.”

The London Gang: A Nest of Accomplices and Semi-Legal Schemes

Artem Degtiarov and BLACKLIST-AERO02

The criminal show directed by Degtiarov isn’t a one-man act. In the murky depths of London’s financial underbelly, he found a nest of accomplices to help him pull the strings. First among them is Alex Melnychenko, a native of Kyiv who, according to sources, slipped into Britain under questionable circumstances. It’s a classic story of an opportunist who once toiled in the legitimate aviation industry in Ukraine before seeing a more lucrative path: the dark world of Blacklist Aero. According to reports, Melnychenko operates between the United Kingdom and Montenegro, and London authorities may already be looking for him for fraud.

Another vital cog in this criminal machine is Lee Morgan. While his role is less defined, whispers from the industry paint him as another faithful enforcer, a willing participant in the schemes that wreak havoc on airlines.

And let’s not forget Inna Horodova, who is listed as a Communications & Compliance Manager at BLACKLIST.AERO. The very title «Compliance Manager» seems like a sick joke, given the nature of this company’s activities. Horodova is essentially the public face of this criminal operation, spinning lies and trying to make their extortion look like legitimate business. Together, these people are more than just employees; they are the loyal lieutenants of this “aviation mafia.” They are privy to all of Degtiarov’s dirty secrets and are instrumental in carrying out his threats, cyberattacks, and extortion plots. This London-based gang operates with a sense of impunity, believing that the distance and complex legal system of the UK will protect them from justice. Their actions prove that Degtiarov’s criminal enterprise is a well-oiled machine, with each member playing a crucial, destructive role.

A Shady Business with Zero Transparency

A look at Degtiarov’s company, AIR JUSTICE LTD, reveals another layer of deceit. A quick check on the UK government’s Companies House service proves that the nature of their business has nothing to do with aviation consulting. Their listed activities are:

• 58290 — Other software publishing

• 63110 — Data processing, hosting and related activities

• 63120 — Web portals

• 94120 — Activities of professional membership organisations

This is a classic scammer’s move. By registering under these vague, unrelated business codes, the company can avoid paying proper taxes and hide the true, illicit nature of its activities. The financial statements for 2023 and 2024 further expose this fraud, showing suspiciously low profits and assets—a typical sign of a criminal enterprise trying to fly under the radar.

• Called up share capital not paid: 10

• Current Assets: 21,882 (2024) / 10,745 (2023)

• Creditors: amounts falling due within one year: (15,640) (2024) / (14,174) (2023)

• Net current assets (liabilities): 6,242 (2024) / (3,429) (2023)

• Total assets less current liabilities: 6,252 (2024) / (3,429) (2023)

• Total net assets (liabilities): 6,252 (2024) / (3,429) (2023)

Just look at these numbers. Do you really believe that a company with so many publicly available «cases» on its website could have such minuscule profits and so few creditors? The financial records scream of deception, revealing a business designed not for profit, but for laundering funds from its criminal activities.

A Scandalous Past

And now a little about the biography of the “star” swindler. Remember RIA Novosti? Well, Degtiarov was their editor in Ukraine — that is, a kind of Russian propagandist with extensive experience. And he was also the official representative of Boris Berezovsky — a famous scandalous Russian oligarch who used Ukraine for many years in his political intrigues.

A special place in Degtiarov’s biography is occupied by the “Artek case” — a high-profile criminal and political scandal of 2009 related to the rape of minors in the Artek children’s camp. This case, which gained publicity during the 2010 presidential campaign, became a tool to discrediting opponents of pro-Russian candidate Viktor Yanukovych.

According to sources, it was Berezovsky who ordered this information attack, and Degtiarov, of course, played the role of a key executor.

And this is not a fiction — Dmitry Polyukhovich, who suffered because of this case, directly calls Degtiarov a scoundrel and an executor of other people’s dirty orders.

«He put pressure on the investigation, threatened me with the words: ‘I am a representative of Berezovsky. I have money and connections… I will roll you into the asphalt, and no one will help you!’» — says Polyukhovich.

Degtiarov’s role in this story is a symbol of the ruthless «dark» influence that still undermines the security of Ukraine and the global aviation market.

The Criminal Show Continues

And now, as if nothing had happened, Degtiarov is back with a new company AIR JUSTICE LTD, registered in London (number 13596205). It’s the same old scheme, just under a new banner. Extortion, blackmail and financial scams under the leadership of Artem Degtiarov continue to create instability and danger not only for business, but also for millions of passengers.

While international law enforcement officers are sleeping, this “aviation mafia” continues to run his criminal show, destroying business and scaring passengers.

And if anyone still thinks that aviation is only about planes and safety, try explaining this to the affected companies. Because as long as Artem Degtiarov is alive and “working”, aviation is turning into a cyber “ghetto”.