The SSU Military Counterintelligence has shut down a corruption scheme in Odesa military housing and maintenance directorate.

Its officials regularly demanded kickbacks from contractors who carried out state orders for repairs at the AFU’s facilities in Odesa region.

The SSU documented the extortion of over UAH 400,000 (USD 10,600) from a local repair and construction company committed by the head of the Defence Housing and Maintenance Directorate.

According to the investigation, the bribe constituted 20% of the total contract amount, according to which the contractors were to provide lighting to the buildings of a military town for Ukrainian defenders.

To conduct ‘negotiations’ with entrepreneurs and transfer money, the official involved his subordinate, head of an electric network district in Odesa.

The SSU detained the intermediary ‘red-handed’ when he received the entire bribe from the contractors.

The SSU also documented unlawful activity of another participant in the ‘deal’ - head of the affiliated commercial entity.

The businessman used controlled companies to divert to shadow and subsequently ‘convert’ into cash the money that he received for supposedly performing repair work at military facilities.

During the searches at the suspects’ offices, the SSU found material evidence, including documents and seals of fictitious enterprises.

The detained ‘intermediary’ has been served a notice of suspicion under Article 368.3 of the CCU (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit by an official).

Court is to decide on custody as a measure of restraint.

The investigation is ongoing to bring to justice all those involved in the offences.

The suspects are facing up to 10 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Specialized Defence Prosecutor’s Office of the Southern Region.