In the Lviv region, a former commander of a military unit has been charged in connection with losses of over 79 million hryvnias relating to ‘combat’ allowances
In the Lviv region, the police have charged a 55-year-old former military unit commander in connection with the unauthorised payment of additional remuneration to military personnel.
According to law enforcement officials, during the period of martial law, Ukrainian military personnel are entitled to receive up to 100,000 UAH in additional remuneration for direct participation in combat operations. However, the investigation established that certain payments were made without confirmation that combat missions had actually been carried out.
Law enforcement officers have documented the former commander’s involvement in a scheme that operated from March 2023 to April 2024. According to the investigation, the official, having knowledge of his subordinates’ actual whereabouts, signed some of the orders on the basis of which increased payments were made to military personnel who had not, in fact, taken direct part in combat operations or carried out tasks to ensure the defence of the state.
During the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement officers seized documents that formed the basis for the calculation of the additional remuneration. Findings were also obtained from audits carried out by the territorial department of internal audit of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Western Office of the State Audit Service.
The results of the audits confirmed that losses amounting to over 79 million hryvnias had been inflicted on the state budget.
On the basis of the evidence gathered, the former commander of the military unit was served with a notice of suspicion under Part 4 of Article 425 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely for negligent conduct in military service.
The suspect has been remanded in custody, subject to bail. Law enforcement agencies are currently identifying all those who may be involved in this scheme.
The investigation was carried out by operatives from the Strategic Investigations Directorate in Lviv Oblast, together with investigators from the Investigative Directorate of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Lviv Oblast, in cooperation with staff from the SBU’s Military Counter-Intelligence Department.
The case is being supervised by the Specialised Prosecutor’s Office for Defence Matters in the Western Region.
In accordance with Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of a crime and may not be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt has been proven in accordance with the law and established by a court conviction.
