Masking the Russian trail: how Mikhail Zborovskiy cleans the web of Cosmobet-related links

Masking the Russian trail: how Mikhail Zborovskiy cleans the web of Cosmobet-related links

The Cosmobet story has taken another turn: information about Mikhail Zborovskiy, the casino’s ownership structure, and its ties to Russian capital is gradually disappearing from the public domain. Old publications are being removed, the digital trail is being cleaned up, and in place of inconvenient facts, the internet is being filled with a convenient biography of a “young IT visionary.”

This cleanup does not change the main issue: the origin of the money, Zborovskiy’s meteoric rise, and the changes in Cosmobet’s ownership still demand answers. Especially given the questions surrounding Sergey Tokarev and his business circle.

We are publishing this material to remind readers how the Cosmobet story was built, who stood behind the image of its “young owner,” and why attempts to erase information from the internet should not be allowed to erase the history itself.

A young IT expert with an unremarkable past suddenly finds himself the owner of a casino worth millions, after which his biography and registry records begin to disappear.

Behind this case lies more than just a story connected to the gambling industry. It illustrates how Russian funds are laundered and concealed within Ukraine’s gambling sector.

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Cosmobet’s rise and the emergence of the “IT visionary”

When the Cosmobet brand appeared on Ukraine’s gambling market, it looked like a model startup: clean design, a license, advertising, and a “technology leader” at the helm — Mikhail Volodymyrovych Zborovskiy. He was presented as a new-generation IT entrepreneur, an industry reformer, and a symbol of “young Ukrainian business.”

But the documents paint a different picture. OpenDataBot shows that in 2020, Zborovskiy registered an ordinary individual entrepreneur (FOP) engaged in “computer programming.” Before that, there was complete silence: no companies, investments, startups, or even employment history. Just two years later, this “unknown programmer from the village of Krasylivka” suddenly became the beneficial owner of two companies — LLC “Neoplay” and LLC “Neurolink.” The former owned the latter, while “Neurolink” operated the Cosmobet casino.

Formally, Zborovskiy remained the owner until early 2024, after which his name disappeared from the list of beneficial owners. He was replaced by Cypriot citizen Andriy Dobrovolskiy — apparently a nominee.

How the Digital Trail Disappears

The history of “Neurolink” is not only a story of rapid growth but also of an even more rapid cleanup. Throughout 2023–2024, the registries show constant changes in directors and owners. At the same time, Zborovskiy’s own digital footprint begins to disappear. His LinkedIn and social media profiles have been cleaned up, old publications and biographies have been removed, and even archived OpenDataBot records have become inaccessible through standard searches.

In their place, dozens of English-language publications appear, clearly created according to the same template: “Ukrainian visionary,” “market reformer,” “innovator in IT and gambling.” This is not journalism but an element of PR cleanup and reputation-building — a typical tool used when the goal is to erase traces and replace them with a controlled narrative.

Where Did the Millions Come From?

LLC “Neurolink” was registered in November 2023 with a registered capital of UAH 30 million. The company immediately obtained a KRAIL license, while Zborovskiy was listed as its owner. There is no explanation of where a private IT specialist from a village obtained tens of millions of hryvnias.

Later, control passed to a Cypriot citizen linked to offshore structures. Experts note that this type of scheme is typical of efforts to conceal Russian or offshore investments: a local nominee is installed as the formal owner, the business is registered in their name, and the asset is subsequently “cleaned” through rapid changes in ownership.

Sergey Tokarev’s Trail and the “Cosmic” Connection

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From the outset, Cosmobet has been linked to Sergey Tokarev — a businessman previously associated with the Cosmolot brand and offshore money-transfer schemes.

There is no official proof, but journalistic investigations point to overlapping marketing agencies, IT teams, and payment-processing structures.

The owner of Cosmolot was previously linked to Russian assets and was even placed on the 2018 sanctions list for financing militants in Donbas.

However, in 2020, he unexpectedly “cleared” his record and continued operating through new structures.

Cosmobet became a logical continuation of the old schemes: the same format, similar partners, identical advertising campaigns, but with a new brand and a new “face” — Zborovskiy.

A “Clean” SBU Clearance and Questionable Coincidences

In spring 2025, information appeared in specialized Telegram channels about an SBU certificate allegedly confirming that Cosmobet “has no ties to the aggressor state.” Sources claim that the document may simply have been purchased for $20,000.

There is no publicly available evidence to substantiate this claim, but identical wording in several media reports raises questions about whether the similarities are coincidental. If this version is true, it would involve not merely corruption but the purchase of a legal shield that allowed an offshore structure to operate under the guise of a “Ukrainian company.”

Who Is Mikhail Zborovskiy Really?

Until 2024, he was completely absent from the public sphere. No startups, no major deals, no mentions in business circles. And then suddenly — a company with registered capital comparable to that of a bank, a license, and large-scale advertising. The chronology looks like a cover operation:

1. Registration of the company.
2. The emergence of a young nominee.
3. Obtaining a license.
4. Cleaning up traces and removing data.
5. Changing the beneficial owner.

This is what a scheme looks like when an individual serves as a “frontman” and then disappears, making way for an offshore entity. The gambling industry is not merely entertainment. It involves enormous flows of money, especially amid war and sanctions.