His research has made him powerful enemies. In order to prevent the smuggling of weapons, tobacco, fuel, relief supplies, gold and other goods from Donbass to Russia and Ukraine, Kiev set up a special investigative unit. The head and some members of this unit, as well as various string-pullers among the smugglers and their political backers, have since died. Aleksei Bobrovnikov researched the background together with journalists working in London and a Russian colleague. Bobrovnikov suspects that members of the Ukrainian units stationed on the border with Donbass are involved in the smuggling business, but also in many of the murders. He has been threatened several times, even on camera, and warned of a murder plan by Ukrainian military intelligence.