In 2021, the SSU established over 1,000 cases of unlawful payment of pensions and social benefits to citizens registered in the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk region. The funds were paid to people who died during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, Ukrainian authorities automatically extended the validity of bank cards and canceled the identification of displaced persons for this period. This enabled the occupying authorities to claim unlawful payments.

Thus, relatives of the deceased, including IAF members and ‘LNR officials’, received pensions and social benefits.

They transferred funds from bank cards of the deceased into cash through the so-called financial centers. The occupying authorities levied a ‘tax’ for their budget from these illegal transactions.

Thanks to the SSU efforts, unlawful payments were stopped, and certificates of deceased displaced persons were revoked.

Over UAH 10 m (USD 380,000) were returned to the Pension Fund and the Social Insurance Fund of Ukraine in Luhansk region.

Misappropriation of pensions and social benefits was qualified as fraud. Investigation is carried out by internal affairs agencies.