In the Ukrainian Marines’ separate battalion in Odesa region, the SSU Military Counterintelligence exposed a large-scale scheme of embezzling budget funds.

The organizer is an accountant of the financial and economic section of the military unit.

According to the investigation, the official transferred salaries and bonuses to accounts of his acquaintances who are not part of the battalion and do not serve in the AFU.

Investigators established that using the scheme the suspect had purchased a premium car.

In total, the accountant embezzled over UAH 10 mln (USD 267,000).

To steal, he entered false data into payroll records and lists for bonuses for the unit’s personnel.

To gain access to special accounting software, the offender used an electronic key that he had falsely obtained from the battalion’s chief of financial and economic service.

He then submitted the falsified information to the State Treasury’s oblast department for accrual of the ordered funds as salaries and bonuses for the personnel.

During the searches at the suspect’s home and office, the law enforcement found an Audi Q7, expensive gadgets and household appliances that he had purchased with the stolen money and an RGO combat grenade.

Almost UAH 2.5 mln of misappropriated funds was found on bank cards of his acquaintances, to whom the official supposedly ‘lent’ money.

Based on the evidence, the military accountant was served a notice of suspicion under Article 191.4 of the CCU (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of office).

Court is to decide on custody as a measure of restraint for the suspect, who is facing up to 8 years in prison. The investigation is underway.

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