28 Ukrainian officials who embezzled over US$36.45 million allocated for defence needs are exposed

The Prosecutor General's Office, together with the State Bureau of Investigation, Security Service of Ukraine, National Police of Ukraine, Strategic Investigations Department and Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine, have conducted a special operation to expose the organisers and participants of criminal schemes to embezzle budget funds allocated for Ukraine's defence.  Source: Prosecutor General's Office Details: The total amount of losses to the state is over UAH 1.5 billion (approx.

US£36.45 million) based on the report.

Following the investigation, the embezzlement involved employees of the Ministry of Defence, military units, enlistment offices, regional military administrations and city councils, and directors of businesses in many oblasts of Ukraine.

28 people, including nine members of organised criminal groups, were served with the notice of suspicion as a result of the investigation.  The suspects include the head of a department of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the head of the enlistment office in Donetsk Oblast, more than seven employees of military units in Donetsk, Odesa, Dnipro, Kyiv and Cherkasy oblasts, five employees of city councils in Poltava and Dnipro oblasts, and representatives of commercial structures.

The suspects are charged with embezzlement and misappropriation of budget funds during the procurement of goods at inflated prices and overstatement of the cost of works, improper performance of duties, negligence in accepting low-quality uniforms for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and forgery and use of forged documents. "One of the suspects, the head of the Defence Ministry's Main Directorate, is charged with obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations.

Knowing about a state contract, he entered into an additional agreement and unjustifiably transferred state funds to the company," the Prosecutor General's Office said.  Law enforcement officers conducted more than 65 searches in institutions and organisations throughout Ukraine (western, central, southern and eastern oblasts). This is the second large-scale special operation by law enforcement officers to expose the organisers and participants in criminal schemes to embezzle budget funds allocated to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

Earlier, 30 people were served notices of suspicion, more than 70 searches were conducted, and the total damage to the state was over UAH 138 million (approx.

US£3.35 million).

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