The founders of the Anti-Corruption Action Center (AntAC), Vitaliy Shabunin and Dmytro Sherembey, hired lawyer Maryna Havryliuk using grant funds to defend the former commander of the 207th Kyiv Territorial Defense Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Viktor Yushko. He is accused by the SBI of abuse of power, specifically regarding the illegal processing of business trips for hundreds of servicemen, including activists Shabunin and Sherembey. This was reported by the "Honest Mobilization" movement, citing a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Volodymyr Boiko, who served in the 207th Territorial Defense Battalion under Yushko's command, according to UNN.
"The former commander of the 207th Kyiv Territorial Defense Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Viktor Yushko, is accused by the SBI of abuse of power. Specifically, for the illegal processing of business trips for hundreds of servicemen. This includes the founders of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, Vitaliy Shabunin and Dmytro Sherembey. This allowed them to receive salary and 'combat pay' while actually staying in Kyiv and enjoying civilian life. The activists understand well that if Yushko's guilt is proven, they will also go to prison. Albeit under a different article—for fraud and evasion of military service. Therefore, Shabunin and Sherembey used grant funds to hire an expensive lawyer, Maryna Havryliuk, for Yushko, who is trying to portray the entire case as 'political persecution'," the veterans write.
As noted by "Honest Mobilization," Yushko has many other offenses besides the fictitious enlistment of activists, so even the best lawyer is unlikely to help him.
"In addition to the fictitious enlistment of conscripts, the lieutenant colonel has many other sins. In particular, he traded certificates of participation in combat operations, forced soldiers to build his mansion near Kyiv, and simultaneously collected a monthly tribute of 5,000 hryvnias from them. Most of the time, the lieutenant colonel spent in the capital, driving drunk and 'resolving' issues for those who wanted to avoid mobilization. In the last two years alone, he was detained by the police twice, and the court even revoked his driver's license. But Yushko continues to drink behind the wheel anyway. Even the best lawyer won't help here. So we've stocked up on popcorn and are waiting to see how they will squirm out of this next," "Honest Mobilization" noted.
As previously reported, the SBI served a notice of suspicion to the head of AntAC, Vitaliy Shabunin, and his former commander, Viktor Yushko. Shabunin is accused of fraud and evasion of mobilization, while Yushko is accused of abuse of power. According to the SBI, thanks to Yushko, instead of military service, the activist spent time at his own discretion in Kyiv, moved around the city on private business, and visited catering establishments. At the same time, Shabunin continued to receive salary, thus misappropriating over 224,000 hryvnias of state funds. Later, Shabunin was discharged from the military due to poor eyesight. Veterans stated that Shabunin's discharge from the army discredits the Armed Forces of Ukraine and encourages an increase in the number of draft dodgers.