In Vinnytsia region, the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Police have shut down another scheme of extorting money from families of Ukrainian defenders.

As a result of the operation, the SSU detained a member of one of the village councils in Vinnytsia oblast, who, together with a local lawyer and his accomplice, extorted money from the family of a fallen Ukrainian serviceman.

For the bribe, they promised the victim to speed up the demobilization of her son, who was fighting with his father at the front.

In case of refusal to pay, the extortionists threatened her with artificial obstacles to her son’s discharge from military service.

The law enforcement documented the crime and detained the perpetrators in the act of getting the money from the victim.

According to the investigation, the fraudsters chose the victim after learning that she had received financial compensation for the loss of her husband on the battlefield.

The scamsters tried to get a ‘percent’ of the amount, which they planned to divide among themselves.

Mobile phones and other material evidence of the crime were seized during searches.

The three detained individuals have been notified of suspicion under Articles 15.2, 27.4, 369.3 of the CCU (incitement to a completed attempt to give an official an unlawful benefit, committed by a group).

The suspects are in custody and face up to 8 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Vinnytsia region and the National Police under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.