The Security Service of Ukraine has detained a former director of the Department of Social and Veteran Policy of the Kyiv City State Administration, who is suspected of misappropriating budget funds.

The charges include involvement in the embezzlement of almost UAH 75 million (USD 1,8 million) intended for palliative care for seriously ill patients. SSU officers exposed the first suspects in the spring 2025, in particular two deputy heads of the said department of the Kyiv City State Administration, a head of a Kyiv psychiatric hospital and their accomplice.

According to the investigation, the criminals misappropriated money allocated to finance residents of Kyiv suffering from incurable diseases.

The SSU has collected the evidence against the former head of the relevant department of the Kyiv City State Administration, who held the position during 2022-2025 and participated in the organization of the scam.

With his guidance, officials of the Kyiv City State Administration signed an agreement with controlled companies that were to supply medicines, food and services for seriously ill citizens free of charge.

However, the suspects spent half of the budget funds on renting and purchasing premium cars and luxury real estate.

To conceal the fraud, its organizers registered the relevant property allegedly for the needs of patients, and forged the reporting documentation.

In addition, the SSU has detained three representatives of Kyiv-based companies who laundered the stolen money under the guise of providing free services for seriously ill patients and gave the cash to the organizers of the scheme.

Based on the new evidence, the former director of the Kyiv City State Administration Department and three businessmen under his control have been served notices of suspicion under Article 191.5 of the CCU (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of office committed on a large scale by an organized group under martial law).

The issue of choosing a measure of restraint is pending. The offenders face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The same article also qualifies crimes committed by the “shadow” supervisor of the Kyiv City State Administration Department, who is hiding abroad.

The investigation was carried out by the SSU Office in Kyiv and Kyiv region under the procedural supervision of Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office.