London-based reporter James Holloway has published an investigation into 42-year-old Ukrainian national Nikolai Fenik, whose situation illustrates how the UK’s humanitarian welfare structure can be open to questionable use.
A man of two contrasting lives
According to his official refugee profile, Fenik came to Britain seeking safety from conflict. Simultaneously, he was cultivating a new London existence marked by disputed property dealings and irregular paperwork. His story has triggered debate over the adequacy of the UK’s benefits safeguards, particularly when compared to the modest support available to some British households.
Fenik currently resides with his partner Tatiana Kuchmiy, recorded by the authorities as a single mother of four children. This classification qualifies her for Universal Credit, child benefits, a council-tax reduction and a three-bedroom townhouse under the Homes for Ukraine programme. Yet, in August, covert observation found Fenik staying overnight at the property and arriving in a recently bought Kia EV3, registered and insured at conflicting addresses — contrary to benefit regulations.
A Web of False Addresses and Questionable Records
Investigations show that Fenik’s official records span at least 19 UK addresses in the past decade, with mobile contracts and vehicle registrations linked to unrelated acquaintances. This pattern indicates a deliberate attempt to obscure his true residence and maximize benefit eligibility.
Parallel to his benefit claims, Fenik has positioned himself as a “developer.” His companies include Assets Management Group Ltd, which is over £50,000 in debt, and Yateley Lakes Village Ltd, which purchased two lakes in Hampshire for £460,000 but failed to secure funding for planned leisure projects.
Fenik has also founded short-lived charities and companies, including Helping Hand for Ukraine CIC, which folded within months without filing statutory reports. Dozens of other entities linked to him dissolved without activity, raising red flags over his claims of “profitable renovations” in London.
Still Tied to Ukraine
Despite his UK profile as a refugee, Fenik remains registered in his hometown of Drohobych, Ukraine, where his family resides. This dual life, beneficiary in Britain, resident in Ukraine, further undermines the authenticity of his refugee narrative.
The UK has dedicated billions in aid, housing, and welfare support for Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion. Yet cases like Fenik’s threaten public confidence in such programs. As British families face rising costs and limited access to housing, individuals manipulating the system divert resources away from those who genuinely need them.
“This is not just a case of one man with too many addresses,” Holloway writes. “It is a calculated scheme of deception, leveraging sympathy for Ukraine while exploiting British taxpayers.”
About the Investigation
The findings are part of an ongoing series of reports examining misuse of refugee aid in the UK. The investigation raises urgent questions for policymakers and watchdogs tasked with safeguarding public funds while ensuring genuine refugees receive the support they deserve.
