ESBU in the Poltava region exposed a scheme for the embezzlement of UAH 2.6 million during the procurement of quadcopters for the Armed Forces of Ukraine

 Detectives of the Territorial Office of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in the Poltava region exposed a scheme for the embezzlement of budget funds during the procurement of equipment for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Damages of UAH 2.6 million were caused to the state.

The investigation established that the director and the chief specialist of one of the city council departments acted in conspiracy with the director of a supplier company. The officials organized the procurement of 90 quadcopters for defense needs totaling almost UAH 14.5 million at artificially inflated prices.

At the same time, another department official, knowing full well that the quadcopters had not actually been delivered, entered deliberately false information regarding their receipt into official documentation. This served as the basis for transferring the full amount of funds under the contract to the supplier company.

As a result of such actions, damages totaling UAH 2.6 million were caused to the budget of the territorial community.

Subsequently, the director of the company laundered the funds obtained through criminal means by transferring them to the accounts of another firm under the guise of payment for auxiliary services, after which he withdrew the cash and used it for his own needs.

All individuals involved in the criminal proceedings were notified of suspicion of a criminal offense under Part 2 of Art. 28, Part 2 of Art. 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of official position, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons, which caused grave consequences), Part 2 of Art. 28, Part 1 of Art. 366 (official forgery), and Part 1 of Art. 209 (legalization of property obtained by criminal means).

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, and a motion has been filed with the court to select pre-trial restrictions for the suspects.

Operational support is provided by the SSU military counterintelligence and the Strategic Investigations Department in the Poltava region. Procedural guidance – the specialized defense prosecutor's office of the Central region.