The SSU Military Counterintelligence, in cooperation with the SSU National Statehood Protection Department and with the assistance of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Commander of the AFU Territorial Defence Forces, has uncovered a group that embezzled public funds during the procurement of unmanned aerial systems for the Ukrainian army.

The investigation established that the organiser of the scheme was a former brigade commander of the Territorial Defence Forces in the Kyiv region, who was in post at the time of the offence.

The commander organised the procurement of 580 FPV drones totalling over UAH 12 million (USD 268,000) and involved other individuals. The drones were due to be delivered to Ukrainian personnel in the Kharkiv sector.

However, the contracts for supplying the equipment turned out to be fictitious. None of the ‘contracted’ drones were delivered to Ukrainian defenders, which negatively impacted the execution of missions on the front line.

Nevertheless, the perpetrators arranged for the paperwork to be drawn up as though the drones had been handed over to the units. The official provided forged handover certificates for signature despite no actual delivery having taken place.

They then instructed personnel to conceal the absence of the drones during an inspection and to record the equipment as lost in action.

The Security Service of Ukraine detained the organiser at his workplace along with three other individuals.

In accordance with an order from the Commander of the Territorial Defence Forces, the official has been dismissed from his post.

Investigators of the SSU Main Investigation Directorate have notified the detainees of their status as suspects under Article 114-1.2 of the CCU (obstructing the lawful activities of the AFU and other military formations).

The investigation is underway to bring all those involved in the scheme to justice.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.