Prosecutors of the Lviv Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the field of defense of the Western region have sent a case to court regarding seven accomplices. According to the investigation, they embezzled over 5.3 million hryvnias of budget funds intended for deceased and missing military personnel.

According to the investigation, the organizer is an employee of the financial and economic unit of one of the special law enforcement agencies. Having access to the accounting system, he credited additional funds to the accounts of six accomplices: the head of the department, the commandant and his deputy, the head of another unit with his deputy, as well as a driver.

The organizer used the personal data of two military personnel: in the payment documents, the funds were falsely designated as intended for the deceased and missing military personnel. In the reports on the use of financial support, the official indicated that the missing and deceased defenders were supposedly active military personnel entitled to receive these funds.

In reality, the orders for the transfer of funds to banking institutions were not made out for these military personnel, but for the organizer's accomplices. As a result, state funds were withdrawn from official circulation and embezzled by the participants of the scheme.

From November 2024 to April 2025, the participants of the scheme converted into cash and distributed among themselves over 5.3 million hryvnias. The organizer took 3 million hryvnias for himself, while the rest was divided among the other group members. During the pre-trial investigation, the accused almost fully compensated the state for the damages incurred.

Their actions were qualified as embezzlement of someone else's property by abuse of office, committed by an organized group under martial law (Part 3, 5 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The pre-trial investigation is conducted by the Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigations in Lviv, with operational support from the internal and own security department of the 1st Border Detachment of the Main Department of Internal and Own Security "East", Lviv Department of the Department of Internal Security of the National Police of Ukraine.

The sanction of the article provides for up to 12 years of imprisonment, confiscation of property, and a three-year ban on holding certain positions.

Note: according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a guilty verdict of the court.