Photo: BES press service
Detectives of the Main Department of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BES) exposed members of three organised criminal groups that embezzled budget funds intended for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was reported by the BES press service.
The investigation established that the criminal groups included officials of state institutions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and entrepreneurs from Zaporizhzhia region. At the beginning of 2024, they entered into direct contracts for the purchase of firewood for the Ukrainian military – however, the price of the products was artificially inflated.
Scheme of misappropriation of funds
According to the investigation, after concluding the transactions, the offenders legalised the stolen funds through a number of controlled individual entrepreneurs. In total, the criminals cashed out over UAH 15 million.
The amount of damage caused to the state was confirmed by the results of forensic commodity and economic examinations.
Progress of the investigation
As a result of the special operation and investigative actions, the BES detectives served 13 members of the criminal groups with a notice of suspicion. They are charged with:
– Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – misappropriation or embezzlement of property on an especially large scale;
– Part 3 of Article 209 – legalisation (laundering) of proceeds of crime.
The suspects’ assets worth over UAH 10 million were seized.
The case was referred to court
The pre-trial investigation has been completed. The indictment has been sent to court.
The BES stressed that the work on exposing economic crimes against the state budget and the defence forces of Ukraine continues. The organisers of corruption schemes will be brought to justice.
