The Odessa Regional Anti-Corruption Center will investigate the "ignoring" of inquiries regarding the mobilization of former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi
Journalists from UA.NEWS contacted the Odessa Regional Military Registration and Enlistment Office regarding the silence of the district office concerning the military registration status of Dmytro Verbytskyi, who resigned from the prosecutor’s office amid a scandal over illicit enrichment.
Request regarding Dmytro Verbytskyi
The online media outlet UA.NEWS sent an official inquiry to the leadership of the Odessa Regional Military Registration and Enlistment Office, demanding that they intervene in the situation surrounding the Khadzhibey District Military Registration and Enlistment Office. For over a month, the Odessa District Military Registration and Enlistment Office has been ignoring press inquiries regarding whether former Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi has registered for military service. The editorial board calls on regional leadership to investigate the reason for ignoring these requests and to verify whether the former official is exerting influence on military personnel to avoid mobilization.
Why this matters
Dmytro Verbytskyi is a public figure whose dismissal from the Office of the Prosecutor General was accompanied by high-profile investigations into his wealth, which was inconsistent with his income. Journalists emphasize: according to the Constitution, the law applies equally to everyone, and the former high-ranking official must be registered and undergo a medical examination on the same terms as every citizen of Ukraine.
Details of the case
According to an investigation by UA.NEWS journalists:
- The Office of the Prosecutor General officially confirmed that after Verbytsky’s dismissal, the documents regarding his removal from the reserve list and referral for registration were sent specifically to the Malynovsky (now Khadzhibey) District Military Registration and Enlistment Office in Odesa.
- The editorial staff has been attempting to obtain a response from the district TCC since March 6, 2026, but the inquiry has gone unanswered.
- Additionally, in a new request to the Regional Military Registration and Enlistment Office, journalists are demanding clear answers: whether Verbytsky underwent a medical examination, whether he received draft notices, and whether he has legal grounds for deferment.
Legal Context
Since Verbytskyi is a public figure, information regarding his fulfillment of military duty is of significant public interest, which outweighs any attempts to conceal this information as a state secret.
“Given D.A. Verbytsky’s previous positions, particularly in law enforcement agencies, and also taking into account a number of reports regarding the failure to take responsive measures against him, we anticipate that he may exert influence on the staff of the Khadzhibey Regional Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center, where, in accordance with the requirements of the Law of Ukraine “On Mobilization Preparation and Mobilization,” he was required to register for military service upon his release. We firmly believe that officers of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and in this case the Khadzhibey District Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center, must adhere to the principle of “One Law for All” and not pay attention to whether it is a simple farmer from a village or a former law enforcement official who “fled” his post before it was too late due to high-profile revelations about his life,” reads the statement from UA.NEWS.
As a reminder, NABU detectives opened a criminal case on May 13—a week after the release of the first report by “Schemes” (Radio Liberty)—regarding the possible illegal enrichment of Deputy Prosecutor General Dmytro Verbytskyi.
Later, the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP) filed allegations against Dmytro Verbytskyi, having identified signs that he had acquired unjustified assets worth approximately 29 million hryvnias.
At that time, in July 2024, Dmytro Verbytskyi resigned from his position as Deputy Prosecutor General of his own accord, as the scandal surrounding his wealth had reached a national scale.
You can follow the full chronology of the scandals involving the former Deputy Prosecutor General from Odesa by following the link.
