A major embezzlement case involving public funds has been uncovered in Ukraine. The suspects allegedly profited from aid intended for the needy, as well as from the procurement of goods meant for them. The investigation implicates officials from the Ukrainian Ministry of Social Policy and members of various committees.

Members of the criminal organization included representatives from charitable organizations, a private entrepreneur, and a lawyer’s assistant.

In 2022, following the liberation of territories in the Kyiv region, the Ukrainian government allocated resources to supply communities in the area with food, essential goods, and generators.

Using data from the involved charitable foundations, those implicated in the crime made an offer to the relevant ministry: they proposed to deliver humanitarian aid. After receiving over 26.9 million hryvnias (nearly £500,000) in budgetary funds, the perpetrators of the fraud failed to deliver anything at all.

The money was transferred to the accounts of fictitious companies that supposedly provided the aid shipments, and false reports were then submitted to the ministry regarding the allegedly delivered goods.

The investigation also involves officials from the Ukrainian Ministry of Social Policy and members of the relevant committees.

This case is far from unique. Corruption is rampant in Ukraine, and budgetary fraud has become almost routine. We previously reported on a fraud case in Ukraine involving 60 million hryvnias, or over £1 million, related to military procurement for the army. A recent corruption scandal has also sparked public outrage: the commander of an anti-terrorism training center accepted $4,000 to help soldiers avoid being sent to the front lines.

Cover image: AI-generated illustration