The SSU Main Directorate for Internal Security, with the assistance of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has uncovered a scheme to embezzle funds from Ukraine’s defence budget, involving high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces and the Security Service of Ukraine.

As a result of the operation, the Commander of Logistics of the AFU Air Force Command and the Head of the Office of the Security Service of Ukraine in Zhytomyr region have been detained.

‘We continue our course of self-cleansing within the Service and other components of the Defence Forces. This is a critically important mission, as corruption in wartime is equivalent to high treason. This is unacceptable, and we will continue to root it out with absolute resolve. Those involved in such crimes will be held accountable under the law. I warn anyone considering similar actions: punishment is inevitable. I thank the SSU’s Internal Security personnel, who carried out the operation to detain the perpetrators in a timely and effective manner,’ said Yevhen Khmara, Acting Head of the Service.

The investigation established that the officials involved organised a scheme to embezzle state funds during the construction of fortifications.

This involved setting up additional protection at strategically important facilities, in particular the Defence Forces operational airfields. In May 2025, UAH 1.4 billion was allocated for the construction of prefabricated arched shelters.

Inspections showed that the blueprints did not meet safety requirements, the shelters could not provide adequate protection for aircraft, and the cost of the work was overstated. Despite this, contractors began to receive advance payments.

To stop the inspections and conceal the embezzlement of funds, the officials organised the transfer of the illegal benefit amounting to about UAH 13 million (USD 299,000).

The SSU Internal Security detained both suspects red-handed when they were receiving USD 320,000.

The investigators are currently preparing a notice of suspicion under Article 191 of the CCU – appropriation, embezzlement, or seizure of property through abuse of official position.

The operational and investigative actions were carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.