In the Odesa region, authorities uncovered fraud involving military salaries
Law enforcement officers exposed a group of military personnel who created “fake” soldiers and received salaries on their behalf. Over several years, nearly 17 million hryvnias may have been embezzled through this scheme. The case involves a unit commander and his subordinates.
Police and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported uncovering an organized group of military personnel suspected of large-scale embezzlement of budget funds. According to the investigation, the scheme was organized by the commander of one of the military units, who involved three of his deputies and a company commander.
Investigators say that between 2022 and 2025, they formally enlisted men of conscription age who did not actually serve. They were listed in documents as active servicemen, even though they performed no duties.
Based on these documents, the “servicemen” were paid salaries, bonuses, and various allowances. According to law enforcement, the money was ultimately appropriated by the organizers of the scheme. At least 19 individuals were reportedly registered only “on paper.” The total amount of accrued payments reached approximately 16.7 million hryvnias.
Law enforcement officials emphasize that this scheme effectively created “ghost soldiers” within the military. “Real payments from the state budget were made on the basis of fictitious documents,” investigators noted. The investigation is ongoing. Authorities are identifying all those involved and checking whether the scheme may have been broader. The issue of formally notifying the suspects is also being considered.
It is also reported that between 2022 and 2026, the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Military Administration developed a systematic scheme to avoid open tenders, concluding more than 92% of contracts through direct agreements.
Journalists from UA.NEWS contacted the Odesa Regional Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center regarding the lack of response from a district office about the military registration status of Dmytro Verbytskyi, who resigned from the prosecutor’s office amid a scandal over illicit enrichment.
