An official at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is suspected of extorting 100,000 euros from a manufacturer of combat drones
The Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General have announced that they have uncovered a scheme to extort bribes at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Following the investigation, a legal adviser to the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and her son were arrested.
According to the investigation, they demanded 100,000 euros from a representative of a Ukrainian company that manufactures combat unmanned aerial systems. According to law enforcement, the money was demanded in exchange for preparing an expert report intended to confirm that the defence contract could not be fulfilled on time, thereby allowing the company to avoid penalties.
The investigation established that in June 2026, a fire broke out at the contractor’s storage facilities as a result of an air strike by the Russian Federation. Consequently, the fulfilment of the state defence order for the production and supply of combat drones was jeopardised.
To confirm the circumstances, the company approached the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry with a request for a relevant expert report. According to law enforcement officials, the official deliberately delayed the processing of the documents and demanded money in exchange for a favourable decision.
According to the case file, she involved her son in the scheme, who acted as an intermediary during meetings with company representatives and when receiving money.
Law enforcement officials reported that they had detained the intermediary whilst he was receiving the second instalment of the bribe, amounting to 50,000 euros. During searches of the suspects’ places of work and residence, evidence was seized which, according to the investigation, confirms their unlawful activities.
The legal adviser to the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and her son have been served with notices of suspicion under Part 5 of Article 27 and Part 3 of Article 368³ of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The court has ordered them to be remanded in custody.
The SBU noted that the investigation is ongoing to identify all individuals who may be involved in this scheme.
At the same time, in accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of a crime until their guilt has been proven in accordance with the law and established by a court conviction.
