First case of its kind in Ukraine: Ukrainian Armed Forces lieutenant colonel detained for taking bribe over payments for destroyed equipment. PHOTO
Under the procedural supervision of the Kryvyi Rih Specialised Prosecutor’s Office for Defence in the Eastern Region, a lieutenant colonel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been notified that he is suspected of receiving an unlawful benefit.
This was reported by Censor.NET, citing the press office of the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Demanded a 20% kickback from soldiers’ rewards
According to investigators, the officer, who was a member of a working group responsible for confirming the results of strikes on enemy equipment, demanded a share of the rewards owed to service members in exchange for processing the paperwork and issuing payment orders without obstruction.
In September 2026, in Pavlohrad, he demanded 20% of the total rewards from a unit’s deputy commander. The service members were due to receive approximately UAH 2 million, of which the officer demanded UAH 380,000 for himself.
In early November, the lieutenant colonel received the agreed sum and was then detained.
First documented case in Ukraine
This is the first documented case in Ukraine of an unlawful benefit being demanded for processing such payments.
The suspect’s actions have been classified under Part 3 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The court remanded him in custody with the option of bail set at UAH 998,000. The prosecutor also filed a motion with the court to seize a mobile phone and a Lexus car.
