The Security Service and the National Police have detained a group of fraudsters in Zaporizhzhia who, posing as military personnel, received humanitarian aid from charitable organizations and then sold it.

Between 2024 and 2025, the dealers ‘earned’ over UAH 8 million (USD 192,000). Among the illegally sold goods were FPV drones and tactical medical supplies that volunteers had sent to the front.

The investigation established that the organizer was a 29-year-old contract soldier who had left the Armed Forces of Ukraine unit where he was serving without permission.

He involved his wife and two unemployed friends in the criminal activities.

Using forged documents, they negotiated donations to the Ukrainian army with charitable organizations.

It has been documented how the fraudsters forged official requests for assistance to the military unit where they supposedly served.

After receiving donations, they filmed staged videos of receiving humanitarian aid and sent fake acceptance and transfer documents.

During the searches of the suspects’ homes and garages, some of the volunteer aid that the perpetrators did not manage to sell were found. Fake documents, a seal, and computer equipment used to make the fakes were also seized.

All four members of the organized criminal group have been notified of suspicion under three Articles of the CCU:

• 201-2.3 (illegal use of humanitarian aid, charitable donations or free assistance for profit, committed by an organized group under martial law);
• 190.2, 190.5 (fraud, committed by an organized group);
• 358.4 (use of a knowingly forged document).

The suspects face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operational and investigative actions were carried out by the SSU Office in Zaporizhzhia region jointly with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the Specialized Defense Prosecutor’s Office of the Eastern region.