Main points
- The commander of logistics of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the head of the SBU Department in Zhytomyr region were exposed for taking bribes and were involved in embezzling funds intended for defense construction.
- During the transfer of 320 thousand US dollars, the defendants were detained and are being charged with embezzlement and embezzlement of property.
Two colonels exposed for bribery and embezzlement of defense funds / Collage of Channel 24
Law enforcement officers caught two colonels taking a large bribe. As it turned out, both officers were involved in transactions with funds that were supposed to go to strengthen the defense capabilities of our country.
This was announced by the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Ruslan Kravchenko and the Security Service of Ukraine.
How were two colonels exposed for bribery and embezzlement?
According to preliminary data, this is the logistics commander of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the head of the SBU Department in one of the regions of Ukraine.
Although the posts did not mention names, Channel 24 sources confirmed that they were Colonel Andriy Ukrainets (Commander of Logistics of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine) and Colonel Volodymyr Kompanichenko (Head of the SBU Department in the Zhytomyr region).
Ruslan Kravchenko noted that in May 2025, a decision was made to allocate 1.4 billion hryvnias for the construction of prefabricated arch structures.
According to the case materials, it concerns the arrangement of additional protection at strategically important facilities, in particular operational airfields of the Defense Forces.
However, later inspections by the Military Counterintelligence Department of the SBU revealed serious violations: the projects did not meet security requirements, the structures did not provide proper protection for aviation, and the cost of the work was significantly overstated. Despite this, the transfer of advance payments under the contracts began.
To hide the embezzlement of budget funds and stop inspections, the logistics commander turned to the head of the USBU of one of the regions with a request to “assist” in bribing the leadership of military counterintelligence. The latter agreed, acting as a “guarantor of the deal” because he personally involved one of the contractors in the scheme,
– Kravchenko explained.
According to the investigation, in order to avoid liability and ensure non-interference in the inspection process, officials offered to transfer about 13 million hryvnias (1% of the financing of the facilities) for concealing the embezzlement of budget funds. It was also planned to involve “loyal” auditors to prepare fictitious conclusions about the quality of construction.
“On February 25, during an attempt to transfer illegal benefits, the participants in the scheme were caught red-handed. 320 thousand US dollars were seized,” the Prosecutor General noted.
A top official of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was exposed in the act of law enforcement officers / Photo from Ruslan Kravchenko's Telegram channel
The SBU added that the head of the SBU Department in Zhytomyr region was exposed. As a result of comprehensive measures, both participants in the scheme were detained.
Currently, a report of suspicion is being prepared for the officials, in accordance with the crimes committed, under articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine on the offer, promise or provision of an illegal benefit to an official and the abuse of power or official authority by a military official. All of them – by prior conspiracy by a group of persons,
– the SBU noted.
Both officers are already preparing to be charged with suspicion / Photo by the SBU
What other revelations has the SBU made recently?
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The SBU reported suspicions to the chief psychiatrist of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on February 20. According to law enforcement, the official received almost a million US dollars in shadow “profits” and legalized this money through the purchase of luxury real estate and premium cars.
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The SBU and the National Police have exposed a large transnational drug network in Ukraine and Poland. Ultimately, 34 drug laboratories were dismantled, over 27 million doses of drugs were seized, 506 searches were conducted, 104 people were detained, and large sums of money and cryptocurrencies were seized.
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In addition, in 4 regions of Ukraine, the SBU detained 7 dealers who were trading in “trophy” weapons. Machine guns, grenade launchers and ammunition were seized from the men, and they now face up to 7 years in prison.