Ex-head of the State Migration Service and accomplices to be tried for embezzlement of 88 million for reconstruction of the service’s office
26 September 2025 16:55
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office has announced that it has filed an indictment against the former head of the State Migration Service of Ukraine (SMS), his former deputy, the former head of the SMS’s resource and economic support and capital construction department, an engineer and a Russian citizen entrepreneur, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
They are accused of a large-scale embezzlement of 88 million UAH of budget funds allocated for the reconstruction of a building in the center of Kyiv, where the central office of the SMS was to be located.
How the scheme worked
According to the investigation, in 2015, the building was transferred to the service to equip its headquarters. A businessman with close ties to the State Migration Service officials organized a long-term scheme to withdraw funds.
The former head of the SMS facilitated agreements with controlled companies that allegedly performed design and construction work. In fact, much of the work was not carried out, and money was paid for fictitious services.
These activities were documented with the participation of the Internal Security Department of the National Police.
Figures involved and context
Since 2015, the SMS has been headed by Maksym Sokoliuk, who was fired in 2021. The prosecutor’s office does not directly name names, but it was he who held the position during this period.
An important point: the final decision to complete the pre-trial investigation was made in September 2024, but the defense had been familiarizing itself with the case file for a long time.
Why it is important
This is one of the largest corruption cases involving the public sector since 2014. It demonstrates the challenges that Ukraine is trying to overcome as part of its reforms and fight against corruption, which is a key condition for further integration into the EU.
How the state is fighting corruption
In 2024-2025 alone, the SAPO and the NABU investigated dozens of cases involving embezzlement of public funds. These included transactions with Ukrzaliznytsia assets worth UAH 15 million, the illegal acquisition of property worth more than UAH 7 million by the former head of a district state administration, and an attempt to seize 18 hectares of land worth more than UAH 160 million.
The anti-corruption infrastructure, in particular the High Anti-Corruption Court, is increasingly seizing questionable assets, which indicates that the anti-theft mechanisms are becoming more effective.
What’s next
The indictment is submitted to the court. If proven guilty, the defendants could face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
The case will be heard by the High Anti-Corruption Court, which has recently become a key platform in cases that define the reality of Ukraine’s fight against corruption.
