The SBU exposed a group of acting and former servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine led by a chief of one of the utility military units in Zhytomyr region on extortion of bribe from a former National Guard officer, ATO veteran.

Allegedly, the chief of the unit of a military town in Zhytomyr region set up a scheme for extorting money from servicemen. As a mediator, the colonel involved the head of the material support department of the Main Center of the Special Monitoring of the Space Agency of Ukraine and his acquaintance. The investigation suggests that the "fee" fluctuated depending on the size of the apartment and the actions that were planned to take place with departmental dwelling.

SBU operatives documented the fact of extortion of USD 1500 from a former National Guard serviceman by the accomplices. To such sum the suspects evaluated the permission on registration in a two-room departmental apartment with the prospect of further privatization.

The law enforcement detained three accomplices when they received the whole sum of bribe in UAH currency.

The searches at the cabinets of the officials, premises of the utility unit, housing department and village council are on the way.

The pre-trial investigation within the criminal proceeding under Part 3 Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is ongoing. The information about other possible facts of extortion by the accomplices is being checked.

The issue of serving the suspects a notice of suspicion and choosing them a type of detention is being solved.

The operation was conducted by the SBU Office in Zhytomyr region jointly with the Main Directorate of National Police under the supervision of Military Prosecutor’s Office of Zhytomyr region.