A former commander of the 103rd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade in Ukraine, Valeriy Kurko, has been charged with causing over 79 million UAH in damages through improper military payment practices. The allegations stem from actions taken between April 2023 and January 2024, during which Kurko reportedly failed to adhere to regulations governing military compensation.
According to investigations led by the National Police’s Strategic Investigations Department and the specialized military prosecutor’s office in Western Ukraine, Kurko improperly authorized additional monetary rewards of 100,000 UAH for soldiers. These payments are legally designated for military personnel actively engaged in combat or undertaking special tasks during wartime.
However, it was established that Kurko signed orders granting such rewards to soldiers who were not legally entitled to receive them. Despite having access to information regarding the actual deployment of personnel in combat situations, he did not exercise adequate oversight, resulting in the issuance of these payments.
As a consequence, the financial service of the military unit processed these unauthorized payments, leading to significant losses for the state budget, totaling nearly 80 million UAH. The investigation was supported by audit findings from the Ministry of Defense’s internal audit department and the Western Office of the State Audit Office, which confirmed the financial discrepancies.
Based on the evidence collected, Kurko has been charged under Article 425, Part 4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which pertains to negligent performance of military service duties. A court has since placed him under arrest, allowing for the possibility of bail, while efforts are underway to identify additional individuals who may be implicated in this case.
Maxim Kozytskyi, the head of the Lviv Regional State Administration, expressed his familiarity with Kurko, noting his significant contributions to the establishment of the 103rd Brigade during a challenging period for Ukraine. Kozytskyi emphasized that Kurko and his troops have demonstrated unwavering commitment to their country and military oath in various combat operations.
In a development following the charges, Kozytskyi announced his intention to petition the court for Kurko’s release on bail. Reports indicate that Kurko has already posted the required bail amount set by the court.
Valeriy Kurko, a former military commander in Ukraine, has been charged with causing significant financial losses through unauthorized military payments. Investigations revealed that he improperly authorized rewards for soldiers not entitled to them, leading to damages exceeding 79 million UAH.