15 million on "dead souls": in Odesa region, commanders of a military unit appropriated payments for fictitious servicemen for three years

In the Odesa region, law enforcement officers exposed a group of military officials who organized a scheme of fictitious enlistment of people into service and illegally obtained over 15.2 million UAH in budgetary funds.

The Office of the Prosecutor General reported this on Monday.

According to the investigation, in 2022-2025, 19 individuals who actually did not serve were added to the personnel lists. At the same time, documents were issued for them allegedly confirming the performance of official duties.

This allowed for the accrual of monetary support and additional payments. As a result, according to the investigation, over 15.2 million UAH were misappropriated.

The organized group included the commander of the military unit, two of his deputies, the deputy battalion commander – chief of staff, and the company commander. Subordinate commanders, who were unaware of the scheme, prepared reports on the alleged service, which were then approved and used for illegal payments.

The funds received by the «servicemen» were handed over to the organizers in cash or transferred to bank accounts.

«During searches, documents, draft notes, bank cards, cash, weapons, ammunition, and other evidence were seized. The actions of the suspects are qualified under a number of articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, including abuse of power, official forgery, provision of undue benefit, and complicity in evasion of military service. All five have been imposed preventive measures – detention with an alternative of bail», – the statement says.