An official at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and her son have been accused of extorting a bribe from a drone manufacturer
The Security Service of Ukraine, in collaboration with the Office of the Prosecutor General, has uncovered a corruption scheme at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A legal advisor to the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and her son were detained on suspicion of extorting 100,000 euros from a Ukrainian manufacturer of combat drones.
According to the investigation, the official demanded an illegal benefit in exchange for preparing an expert opinion intended to confirm force majeure circumstances and help the company avoid penalties for failing to fulfill a defense contract within the established deadlines.
Law enforcement officials established that in June 2026, a fire broke out at the manufacturer’s warehouses as a result of a Russian airstrike, jeopardizing the fulfillment of a state defense order for the production and supply of combat drones.
To document the force majeure circumstances, the company turned to the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. However, according to the SBU, the advisor deliberately delayed the review of the application and demanded money in exchange for issuing a favorable opinion.
She enlisted her son to carry out the scheme; he acted as an intermediary during negotiations with company representatives and in the transfer of funds.
Law enforcement officers detained the intermediary while he was receiving the second installment of the bribe, amounting to 50,000 euros. During searches of the suspects’ workplaces and residences, evidence of their illegal activities was seized.
The official and her son were notified of charges under Part 5 of Article 27 and Part 3 of Article 368-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—bribery of an official of a private-law legal entity, regardless of its organizational and legal form.
The court ordered both suspects to be held in pretrial detention. A pretrial investigation is currently underway, during which law enforcement officials are identifying all individuals involved in the illegal scheme related to the fulfillment of a state defense contract.
This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine.
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