The SSU has shut down a large-scale corruption scheme organized by the leadership of Sumy Regional Military Administration. Its officials misappropriated state funds allocated to cope with the consequences of warfare and shelling by ruscists, in particular, to restore the city’s infrastructure.

Following the SSU’s investigation, two officials have been notified of suspicion:

• deputy head of Sumy Regional Military Administration;
• acting chief of the Capital Construction Department of the Regional Military Administration.

They are suspected of crimes under the following Articles of the CCU:

• 191.5 (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of office, committed upon prior conspiracy by a group of persons, in particularly large amounts, under martial law);
• 366.1 (official forgery).

According to the pre-trial investigation, in April 2022 the deputy head of Sumy Regional State Administration, together with the chief of the Capital Construction Department, whose appointment the former supported, organized a scheme to embezzle funds allocated by the government to Sumy region.

The sites that were to be restored and repaired using this money included residential buildings, civil and critical infrastructure, bridges and roads damaged by enemy strikes.

For this purpose, the offenders entered into contracts for restoration and construction works with five affiliated commercial entities.

The dealers deliberately included in the estimate documentation prices for construction materials that were 2-3 times higher than market prices.

The materials were purchased through specially created shell companies.

Investigators documented that during the repair of just one facility, the offenders had embezzled UAH 1.4 mln (USD 35,000).

Currently, examinations in relation to 80 similar buildings are underway.

During the searches at the suspects’ workplaces and homes, the SSU found draft documents, mobile phones and computer equipment with evidence of the crimes.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

The SSU Office in Sumy region carried out the operation under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor’s Office.