Ukrainian authorities have uncovered a scheme involving the embezzlement of military property, leading to charges against a former deputy commander of a military unit in the Kharkiv region. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) announced the allegations.
According to investigators, between 2022 and 2024, two individuals linked to a group of companies and private entrepreneurs supplied spare parts for armored vehicles to state defense enterprises, amounting to over 350 million hryvnias. However, the authorities claim that there were no legitimate sources for these products, with some of the supplied assets previously stored in a military facility in Kharkiv. At the onset of the full-scale invasion, these items were falsely reported as destroyed due to Russian missile strikes.
“The former deputy commander systematically neglected his responsibilities regarding the accounting and preservation of the property entrusted to him,” NABU stated.
In exchange for his complicity, the deputy commander allegedly received at least 2.8 million hryvnias in illicit benefits from the scheme’s organizer, who directly funded the purchase of household equipment, expensive construction materials, and other goods for the military.
“This arrangement highlights the extent of corruption within military procurement processes,” SAP officials remarked.
The charges filed include:
- Against the former deputy commander: Part 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 410 (theft of military property), Part 4 of Article 368 (acceptance of unlawful benefits), and Article 366-3 (non-declaration) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine;
- Against the scheme’s organizer: Part 3 of Article 369 (offering unlawful benefits) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Investigations are ongoing, with authorities working to identify any additional participants in this fraudulent operation.
Ukrainian law enforcement has charged a former military official and an accomplice in a scheme to embezzle over 350 million hryvnias in military assets. The investigation reveals serious lapses in accountability within military procurement.