SSU Head Vasyl Malyuk.Photo: top.today.ua
The Security Service of Ukraine, together with other law enforcement agencies, is actively exposing large-scale corruption schemes in medical and social expert commissions (MSECs). In 2024, 64 officials were already suspected of committing crimes, and 9 people were convicted. The SBU initiated the cancellation of 4106 disability certificates issued on the basis of forged documents, the SSU press service reported.
National security issues
SSU Head Vasyl Malyuk stressed the importance of this work during a briefing summarising the results of the National Security and Defence Council meeting. “The Security Service systematically counteracts threats to national security, especially those that harm the country’s defence capability. Disclosures of abuses in the MSEC system affect mobilisation processes, and we will continue to fight these shameful phenomena,” Maliuk stressed.
Liquidation of organised criminal groups
The SSU detected and liquidated 8 organised criminal groups, which included representatives of the MSEC from different regions of Ukraine. In particular, a group of 13 members of the regional MSEK was neutralised in Kharkiv region. During the searches, more than $650,000 was seized from them, which they received for selling fake medical certificates that allowed evaders to avoid conscription.
In Rivne region, 29 representatives of local MSECs were exposed for issuing fictitious medical histories for conscripts for money, allowing them to evade mobilisation. The criminals earned over $350,000 from this activity.
Confiscation of looted property
In Mykolaiv, the head of the regional MSEC was detained, who was found to have $450,000, a collection of gold items and three undeclared apartments in Odesa. To conceal her wealth, the official transferred most of the property to her son, a medical student with Russian citizenship.
In Zakarpattia, the head of the district military medical commission and three accomplices who issued disability certificates to evaders for bribes were exposed. The possibility of involvement of the head of the regional MSEC in the operation of criminal schemes is also being checked.
Inspections and Co-operation with Other Authorities
The SSU is conducting checks on the facts of illegal disability among officials. Currently, these checks cover about 2,400 people. “We are working closely with the Ministry of Health, the National Police and the State Bureau of Investigation to eradicate any corruption in the system of medical and social expert commissions,” said Malyuk.
These efforts of the SSU underline the determination of the Ukrainian state to fight corruption and protect national interests, which is extremely important in the context of current challenges. The discovery of such criminal schemes not only undermines trust in state institutions but also harms the country’s defence capabilities, so combating these phenomena remains a priority for law enforcement agencies.
