NABU exposes Servant of People MP over scheme to procure drones and electronic warfare systems at inflated prices. PHOTOS (updated)
Today, 2 August 2025, a number of measures were taken to expose the persons involved in the commission of a corruption crime.
This was reported by Censor.NET with reference to the NABU press centre.
As noted, among those exposed for bribery are the current MP of Ukraine, heads of district and city military civilian administrations; and members of the National Guard.
How did the scheme work?
"The essence of the scheme was to conclude state contracts with supplier companies at deliberately inflated prices - up to 30% of the contract amount was returned to the participants in the crime in the form of illegal benefits," the statement said.
Currently, 4 people have been detained in accordance with Article 208 of the CPC of Ukraine. Details will be published later on the official resources of the NABU and the SAPO.
The NABU and the SAPO stressed that they act exclusively within the legal powers defined by the current legislation.
"We are directing our efforts and focusing on results to obtain a quick and fair court decision.
It should be noted that this operation was made possible by Law No. 4560-IX, signed by the President of Ukraine, which removed a number of barriers to the work of anti-corruption agencies and contributed to the stability of their activities in sensitive investigations. This operation is an example of how institutional support and teamwork at the highest level can bring about real change. We are grateful to the President of Ukraine for promoting an independent anti-corruption infrastructure," the NABU added.
Update
Later, NABU and SAPO provided additional details.
It was noted that the organized criminal group included a People’s Deputy of Ukraine of the IX convocation, a former head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration and currently head of one of the district military administrations, the head of a city military administration, the commander of a National Guard military unit, as well as the beneficiary of an enterprise and the director of a company supplying unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to the investigation, during 2024–2025, members of the organized group established a scheme for systematic embezzlement of budget funds allocated by local governments for defense needs, as well as for receiving and giving large-scale illicit benefits.
NABU and SAPO established that one scheme operated during the conclusion of a state contract for supplying electronic warfare systems. For concluding the procurement contract at knowingly inflated prices, members of the group received illicit benefits amounting to 30% of the contract value.
A similar mechanism was used in the procurement of FPV drones. A military unit signed a state contract worth nearly UAH 10 million with a company that supplied products overpriced by about USD 80,000. After contract execution, company officials handed over kickbacks to the criminal group members. Four people have been detained under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. The preliminary legal qualification is Part 5 of Article 191 and Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The issue of notifying suspects is being resolved.
The Anti-Corruption Action Center reported that among the suspects is Servant of the People MP Oleksii Kuznetsov. Heads of district and city administrations and National Guard servicemen were also implicated in the bribery.
"The essence of the scheme: contracts for drones and electronic warfare systems were signed with margins up to 30%, which then returned to the suspects as illicit benefits. A strange detail is that initial information about the exposure appeared on President Zelenskyy’s account, allegedly as a result of reports from NABU and SAPO heads. It should be noted that Kuznetsov voted to limit the independence of NABU and SAP, but later supported a bill restoring their powers. Heads of district and city administrations and National Guard servicemen were also implicated in the bribery," the report states.
As a reminder, Zelenskyy has just announced that an MP, heads of district and city administrations, and members of the National Guard have been caught taking bribes.
