A senior combat medic in a drone unit in Donetsk has been arrested on suspicion of stealing and attempting to sell 16 FPV drones. The drones, produced by the company General Chereshnya, were reportedly taken from a military facility.
The Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine announced that prompt action from the prosecutor’s office and the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Defense in the Eastern Region helped prevent the illegal sale of these drones.
According to the Donetsk Specialized Prosecutor’s Office, the serviceman is accused of theft of military property during a state of war, as outlined in Article 410 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code.
General Chereshnya expressed gratitude to Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and the relevant authorities for their commitment to combating the theft of military assets.
FPV drones are considered critical military equipment, utilized daily along the front lines. Their availability is vital for maintaining defensive positions and protecting the lives of military personnel. Any attempts at illegal appropriation or sale of such assets pose a significant threat to national defense, the company stated.
Investigators revealed that the accused, who served as a senior combat medic in a mechanized battalion’s drone unit, unlawfully acquired the 16 drones, each valued at 34,900 UAH. The total estimated value of the stolen property amounts to 558,400 UAH.
On May 30, 2026, the serviceman allegedly sold the stolen drones for 105,000 UAH. He was apprehended by law enforcement during the transaction, in accordance with Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.
During the investigation, authorities seized the cash, all 16 FPV drones, and their components.
The court has since imposed a preventive measure of detention on the suspect, with the option for bail set at 266,200 UAH.
The preliminary investigation is being conducted by the Territorial Directorate of the State Bureau of Investigation in Kramatorsk, with operational support from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine.
A senior medic in Donetsk has been arrested for allegedly stealing and attempting to sell military drones. The investigation revealed the theft of 16 FPV drones, valued at over half a million UAH, highlighting ongoing concerns about military asset security in Ukraine.