Is “Trukha” changing hands? The largest network of Telegram channels is linked to a crypto millionaire
17 June 19:11
“Trukha,” one of Ukraine’s largest networks of Telegram channels, may have changed hands. According to Forbes Ukraine, Kharkiv-based crypto entrepreneur Mykola Udyansky allegedly acquired the project about two months ago. However, both the businessman himself and the network’s public director, Maksym Lavrynenko, categorically deny that the deal took place, reports "Komersant Ukrainian".
Several sources from the media, defense, and anti-corruption sectors informed Forbes Ukraine about the possible change in ownership. At the same time, no documentary evidence of the sale has been made public yet.
An asset worth tens of millions of dollars
Estimates of “Trukha’s” potential value vary significantly. Representatives of the advertising market and the Telegram industry cite figures ranging from $15 million to $25 million. They attribute this range to the network’s audience size and its influence on the information landscape.
According to the Netpeak agency, the “Trukha” network encompasses at least 37 Telegram channels with a combined audience of about 9 million subscribers. The total number of platforms associated with the brand may exceed one hundred.
At the same time, the official financial figures are significantly more modest. According to YouControl, “Truha Ukraine” LLC reported revenue of only 9.2 million UAH in 2025. This is precisely why it is practically impossible to estimate the asset’s real value using traditional media valuation multiples.
One of Forbes’ sources in the anti-corruption sector claims that the actual amount of a potential deal could have been only about $2.5 million.
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The Project’s History and the Question of Its True Owner
“Trukha” began as a local Kharkiv Telegram channel called “Trukha Kharkiv,” created in 2019. After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the project rapidly transformed into a nationwide network of news channels and became one of the main sources of up-to-the-minute information for millions of Ukrainians.
However, questions about who actually controls this media outlet arose long before the current rumors of a sale. In 2023, journalists from NGL Media and “Grunt” published an investigation in which they suggested that Kharkiv businessman Volodymyr Lytvyn might be involved in the creation and financing of the network.
Among the arguments cited were the registration of the “Trukha” trademarks in the name of the entrepreneur’s mother, as well as a number of financial and organizational ties between Lytvyn’s entities and the project. Maksym Lavrynenko stated at the time that he was the sole owner of the network.
Who Is Mykola Udyansky?
Mykola Udyansky is a Kharkiv entrepreneur who rose to prominence in the cryptocurrency market. Over the years, he has been linked to the cryptocurrency exchanges Coinsbit and Qmall. In 2021, Forbes estimated his net worth at $180 million and included him in its ranking of the richest Ukrainians. However, following the collapse of the cryptocurrency market, the collapse of the FTX exchange, and the outbreak of full-scale war, estimates of his net worth were significantly revised. Udyansky currently also serves as the Honorary Consul of Romania in Kharkiv and is a co-founder of the Parlament Media Group.
Amid Fines and Questions About Monetization
Rumors of a change in ownership surfaced just as “Truha” came under increased scrutiny from government agencies. In July 2025, the state agency PlayCity fined “Trukha Ukraine” 4.8 million UAH “for violating legislation on gambling advertising.” The regulator cited the systematic placement of gambling ads without the required warnings, the use of manipulative advertising messages, and the lack of the necessary registration to distribute such content. This became one of the first high-profile cases in which major Telegram platforms were held accountable for illegal gambling advertising.
Despite public denials by the parties, the very emergence of information about the possible sale of “Trukha” demonstrates that Telegram channels in Ukraine are increasingly transforming from anonymous information platforms into full-fledged media assets, the value of which appears to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
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