Drone "kickbacks" case: NABU completes investigation into Hayday, Kuznyetsov, and National Guard command

Drone "kickbacks" case: NABU completes investigation into Hayday, Kuznyetsov, and National Guard command

Investigation completed in the case of corruption in the procurement of UAVs and EW equipment for the National Guard.

This was reported by the NABU press service.

The case materials have been opened for review by the defense parties.

According to NABU and SAPO, in 2025, an organized group systematically misappropriated budget funds that local self-government bodies directed to the needs of the Defence Forces.

During the investigation, the anti-corruption agencies established the following episodes:

• receipt of a bribe by a people’s deputy and former Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) serviceman – up to 30% of the contract amount – for influence on the conclusion of contracts by the commander of a military unit for the procurement of FPV drones;
• procurement of FPV drones for nearly 10 million UAH by a National Guard of Ukraine (NGU) military unit at inflated prices exceeding 3 million UAH. The former head of Luhansk Regional State Administration (RSA), a people’s deputy, the head of the city military administration, a former serviceman, the beneficiary, and the director of the company misappropriated the specified budget funds in the form of a «kickback» after supplying the products;
• procurement of EW equipment at inflated prices. The former head of Luhansk RSA, a people’s deputy of Ukraine, the head of the city military administration, and the commander of an NGU military unit received up to 30% of the contract amount;
• procurement of FPV drones for nearly 2 million UAH at inflated prices. Involved in the misappropriation of funds are a deputy of the Zaporizhzhya Regional Council, the beneficiary, and the director of the manufacturing company;
• fictitious employment of at least 15 military-liable individuals by the beneficiary, the company director, and a deputy of the Zaporizhzhya Regional Council. Services for individuals were valued from $5 thousand to $12 thousand;
• illegal enrichment of the former head of Luhansk RSA by over 62 million UAH;
• submission of false information in the declaration by the former head of Luhansk RSA for 2020–2025.

Among the suspects:

• former head of Luhansk Regional State Administration;
• people’s deputy of Ukraine;
• head of the city military administration;
• commander of a National Guard of Ukraine military unit;
• actual beneficial owner of the UAV manufacturing company;
• director of the UAV manufacturing company;
• deputy of the Zaporizhzhya Regional Council;
• former serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

For reference, on August 2, 2025, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy heard a report from NABU Director Semen Kryvonos and SAPO Head Oleksandr Klymenko. It was noted that one of the people’s deputies of Ukraine, heads of district and city administrations, and National Guard of Ukraine servicemen were caught receiving bribes.

In addition, NABU reported that large-scale corruption was uncovered in the procurement of UAVs and EW equipment at inflated prices, with a current people’s deputy among the defendants.

The Anti-Corruption Action Center reported that among the defendants in the case is people’s deputy from the «Servant of the People» Oleksiy Kuznyetsov.

It was previously reported that among the individuals uncovered by NABU and SAPO in the corruption scheme for drone procurements for the military is Serhiy Hayday – former head of Luhansk Regional Military Administration, and then head of Mukachevo District State Administration.

On August 2, at a government meeting, it was proposed to dismiss Serhiy Hayday from the position of head of Mukachevo District State Administration.

The same day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the head of the Rubizhne City Military Administration of Luhansk Region Andriy Yurchenko and the head of Mukachevo District State Administration Serhiy Hayday.

On September 2, the HACC Appeals Chamber rejected the appeal of the defense of the former head of Mukachevo District State Administration of Zakarpattia Region Serhiy Hayday and the prosecutor regarding the pre-trial restraint measure in the form of detention with an alternative of posting a 10 million UAH bail.