Eight military personnel will be tried in Donbass for fictitious 'combat' payments exceeding 9 million UAH

Eight officials of a military unit stationed in the Donetsk region will appear in court in a case concerning illegal accrual of combat participation payments. According to investigators, the state suffered damages exceeding 9 million UAH.

The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine reported this on October 5 (link).

The investigation believes that the organized group was led by the commander of the military unit. From January 2023 to November 2024, its members entered false information into official documents about the direct participation of servicemen in combat operations.

According to the Bureau, these servicemen did not actually perform the relevant combat tasks. However, based on the prepared documents, they were paid additional monetary remuneration.

As a result, the state suffered damages estimated by investigators at over 9 million UAH.

The indictment against the unit commander, alleged organizer, and two other members has already been sent to court. They are charged with abuse of office causing grave consequences and official forgery committed as part of an organized group.

Five other defendants cooperated with investigators and reimbursed the military unit 2.3 million UAH in damages. Their case materials were also sent to court along with plea agreements.

To secure further compensation, law enforcement seized movable and immovable property of the group members worth over 4 million UAH.

The investigation was conducted by Economic Security Bureau detectives with operational support from the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police in the Donetsk region and the Military Counterintelligence Department of the SBU. Procedural guidance was provided by the Donetsk Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office of the Eastern region.

The Bureau emphasizes that under the Constitution of Ukraine, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.