Corruption in defense: Defense Ministry official extorted a million dollars from a developer
12 August 22:22
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP), together with the National Police, have served a notice of suspicion to the acting head of one of the Central Territorial Departments of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The investigation found that the official had set up a corruption scheme related to the construction of housing for the military in the Sviatoshynskyi district of Kyiv, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing the above agencies.
According to the detectives, the official promised one of the capital’s developers to ensure victory in the tender for the construction of a multi-storey building for military personnel. To implement the plan, he engaged several intermediaries, and estimated his own “services” at USD 1.3 million. The amount was to be transferred in three stages through bank cells:
- $100 thousand after the start of the tender;
- $400 thousand after signing the construction contract;
- $800 thousand upon completion of the first stage of work.
After the tender was announced, the developer offered to reduce the amount to $1 million, which the official agreed to. The first tranche of $100 thousand was transferred, which was documented by law enforcement. In June 2025, during a controlled operation, the accomplices were detained immediately after receiving the next installment. Later, the collected evidence allowed to serve a notice of suspicion to the high-ranking official himself.
Criminal proceedings were opened under Part 4 of Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – obtaining an unlawful benefit in a particularly large amount. The sanction of the article provides for up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property and deprivation of the right to hold certain positions.
The NABU emphasizes that the investigation is ongoing, checking the involvement of other officials of the Ministry of Defense and the possibility of similar schemes in the field of housing construction for the military. The SAPO emphasizes that this case is a telling example of abuses in public procurement that undermine confidence in the defense sector in times of war.
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