He accrued fictitious "combat" payments and took half: SBI completes investigation into officer from Mykolaiv region. PHOTO
The State Bureau of Investigation has completed its pre-trial investigation into the former chief of staff and deputy commander of a military unit in the Mykolaiv region. According to investigators, the officer organized a scheme under which combat payments were illegally awarded to his subordinates, who were required to give half of the money to him.
This was reported by the SBI press service, according to Censor.NET, citing the Bureau’s statement.
The indictment has already been submitted to court.
Service members received payments for non-existent combat missions
According to the investigation, in 2024–2025, the lieutenant colonel arranged additional payments for around 20 service members for allegedly performing combat missions in the Kherson sector.
In reality, these service members were not involved in carrying out such missions.
After receiving the money, the subordinates were required to give the officer half of the payments awarded to them, according to the SBI.
Officer threatened service members
Investigators established that the lieutenant colonel pressured his subordinates to conceal the illegal scheme.
In particular, he threatened to send the service members on actual combat missions if they disclosed the illegal payments.
The scheme caused more than UAH 3 million in losses to the state.
The commander has been suspended from his post
The suspect has been suspended from office.
He is accused of abuse of office and official forgery, including offences committed by a group of persons acting by prior conspiracy. The proceedings were initiated under Part 2 of Article 28, Parts 1 and 2 of Article 364, Part 1 of Article 366, as well as Part 2 of Article 28 and Parts 1 and 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The relevant articles provide for up to six years in prison.
