The SSU Military Counterintelligence, the State Bureau of Investigations, and the National Police, with the assistance of the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, have uncovered yet another scheme involving the illegal payment of bonuses for supposed participation in combat on the front lines.

According to the investigation, an official from one of the military units responsible for working with combatants was involved in organising the scheme.

He unjustifiably issued monthly allowances of UAH 100,000 and one-time bonuses of UAH 70,000 to military personnel, in violation of the provision for direct participation in combat operations. In exchange, he received a significant ‘cut’ from the scheme.

In reality, the servicemen receiving these payments were not in combat zones and did not perform any front-line duties.

It has been established that, as a result of these actions, five military personnel were unjustifiably paid nearly UAH 2.6 million in ‘combat payments’.

The organiser of the scheme – the former head of the unit’s combatant support group – has been notified of his status as a suspect under Article 364.2 of the CCU (abuse of official position resulting in serious consequences).

Investigative actions are ongoing; all circumstances of the crime are being established, and the decision to notify other individuals involved of suspicion is pending.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Sumy Specialised Defence Prosecutor’s Office.