Large-scale embezzlement of funds for the purchase of drones for the army exposed in Donetsk region
Employees of the State Bureau of Investigations exposed a criminal organisation of five people in Donetsk Oblast, headed by the commander of one of the military units. According to the investigation, the state lost more than 47 million hryvnias due to a scam involving defence procurement.
The scheme was organised by the unit commander, three of his subordinate military personnel and a civilian entrepreneur. According to the investigation, the funds were converted into cash through companies under their control. The money was transferred to the military unit's accounts ostensibly for the purchase of FPV drones and collimator sights. In reality, the payments were made for equipment that did not exist or was unsuitable for use in combat conditions.
To legalise the expenses, the suspects prepared fictitious marketing studies, contracts, acts and invoices in advance. After that, the funds were cashed out and distributed among the participants in the scheme. According to the documents, 1,815 FPV drones were allegedly purchased, but they never arrived at the military unit. To conceal the shortage, the commander ordered reports to be drawn up on their use during combat missions.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers conducted more than 20 searches in various regions of Ukraine, including Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Kyiv. Unsuitable collimator sights were seized and more than 70 expert examinations were appointed. All members of the organisation were notified of their suspicion of creating a criminal organisation, embezzling budget funds on an especially large scale during martial law, and entering false information into official documents. The court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention without the right to bail.
The case is being prosecuted by the Specialised Prosecutor's Office for the Eastern Region. Law enforcement agencies are also working to return the stolen funds to the state budget.
