National Guard lieutenant-colonel is suspected of selling rear-line posts for $3,000 in Kirovohrad region, according to State Bureau of Investigation. VIDEO+PHOTO
The head of one of the departments at the headquarters of a National Guard military unit and one of his subordinates have been caught in the Kirovohrad region. According to the investigation, they accepted bribes to help servicemen transfer to rear units and promised not to send them to frontline areas.
As reported by Censor.NET, this information was provided by the State Bureau of Investigations.
For $3,000, they promised to let them serve close to home
According to the investigation, the scheme was organised by a 45-year-old lieutenant-colonel – the head of one of the departments at the headquarters of a National Guard military unit. He enlisted the help of his 55-year-old subordinate.
In July 2026, the lieutenant-colonel allegedly offered to help the conscript secure a transfer to his unit in Kropyvnytskyi. The soldier was also promised that he would not be included on the lists for deployment to frontline regions.
Initially, according to the investigation, the lieutenant-colonel asked for 2,000 dollars in return. He received the money via his subordinate. Afterwards, the soldier was told that he needed to hand over a further 1,000 dollars.
"For 3,000 US dollars, the suspects promised to transfer a serviceman to a unit based in Kropyvnytskyi, allow him to serve close to home and not send him to frontline areas," the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) stated.
In August, according to the investigation, the lieutenant-colonel received the remaining sum – 1,000 dollars – via his subordinate. After the money was handed over, the 55-year-old military officer was arrested.
The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into other possible cases
The bureau noted that the suspects were caught red-handed whilst receiving money for transferring another serviceman to a reserve company.
Following the exposure, the head of the staff service was transferred to a lower-ranking post in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The lieutenant-colonel has been notified that he is suspected of receiving an unlawful benefit in exchange for influencing a decision made by an authorised official. His subordinate is charged with aiding and abetting.
Law enforcement officers plan to ask the court to impose pre-trial detention on both men. If found guilty, they face up to eight years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Investigators are also examining whether the suspects may have sold logistical posts to other military personnel. In addition, they are identifying possible accomplices.
