National Guard lieutenant colonel is suspected: the state lost more than UAH 72 million due to fictitious additional payments
Investigators of the State Bureau of Investigation served a notice of suspicion to a lieutenant colonel of the National Guard of Ukraine, who, according to the investigation, organised a scheme of illegal payments to servicemen of the State Special Transport Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result of the official's actions, the state budget suffered losses of over UAH 72 million.
According to the SBI, between January and May 2024, 317 military SSTs were involved in the construction of fortifications in Zaporizhzhia region. The units worked on the second line of defence and assisted the National Guard in the construction of fortifications. Nevertheless, the head of the engineering service of one of the National Guard units entered false information in his official reports about the alleged presence of these soldiers directly on the front line.
These documents became the basis for charging each of the 317 servicemen additional payments of UAH 100 thousand for different periods. The investigation believes that the suspect was aware of the illegality of such actions, as the relevant additional payments are provided exclusively for the military on the front line of the combat.
The facts of the violations are confirmed by the conclusions of the Western Office of the State Audit Service, forensic economic examination and investigation materials. The possible involvement of other officials is being checked, and it is also being established whether the funds were received by military personnel who were not in Zaporizhzhia Oblast at all.
The lieutenant colonel is charged with abuse of power under martial law under part five of Article 426-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The sanction of the article provides for up to 12 years in prison. The court imposed on the suspect a measure of restraint in the form of house arrest. Measures are being taken to compensate for the damage caused to the state. Procedural guidance is provided by the Lviv Specialised Defence Prosecutor's Office of the Western Region.
Photo: Bureau of Investigations
