Army Corps officials suspected of extorting kickbacks from military personnel over 'combat pay'
Kyiv • UNN
Three officials are suspected of extorting 274,000 hryvnias in exchange for combat duty payments. The court has ordered them to be held in custody with the option of posting bail.
Officials of an army corps are suspected of extorting money from military personnel, the Prosecutor General's Office reported on Wednesday, according to UNN.
Suspicion has been notified to three army corps officials: the head of logistics – deputy corps commander, the head of the logistics department of the staff, and an officer of the organizational and planning logistics department
According to the investigation, "servicemen were entered into documents as having performed combat or special missions, which provided grounds for the calculation of additional remuneration." "According to the investigation, money was demanded from subordinates for inclusion in the relevant reports," the statement said.
The investigation believes that "the scheme was organized in December 2025 by the head of logistics – deputy corps commander, involving two subordinates." "In February 2026, the head of the logistics department, acting on his instructions, demanded that a subordinate officer systematically transfer funds for including him and other servicemen in reports for 'combat' pay," the statement reads.
As established by the investigation, refusal to make such payments could lead to negative consequences during military service.
"On March 23, 2026, one of the suspects received 40,000 UAH for including servicemen in reports for the payment of additional remuneration for February. Subsequently, he demanded another 36,000 UAH for March, and also instructed to collect 154,000 UAH from other military personnel. In total, it concerned 190,000 UAH, which the suspects received on April 29 in an office," the Prosecutor General's Office said.
On May 28, the officials were reportedly "detained after receiving another 44,000 UAH of illegal benefit." The total amount of funds currently incriminated by the investigation is 274,000 UAH.
"During searches at the suspects' residences, in cars, and on the territory of the military corps, documentation regarding the calculation and payment of additional remuneration, draft notes, computer equipment, mobile phones, a tablet, as well as 343,000 UAH, 9,900 USD, and 80 EUR were seized," the Prosecutor General's Office indicated.
The three officials are charged with receiving illegal benefits. The court has ordered preventive measures in the form of detention with the alternative of bail, which the suspects have posted.