A scheme of illegal military payments worth UAH 1.3 million was exposed in Zaporizhia: a lieutenant colonel and his cohabitant are suspected

Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation have uncovered a scheme in Zaporizhia for illegally receiving combat payments, which, according to the investigation, involves the deputy commander of one of the military units and his civilian wife. Over almost three years, the woman was unjustly charged almost UAH 1.3 million.

This was reported by the State Bureau of Investigation.

The woman served only on paper

According to the investigation, in 2023, a lieutenant colonel, who held the position of deputy battalion commander, helped his cohabitant get a job in his unit as a commander of the communications platoon.

However, after the military unit was sent to the Zaporizhia direction, the woman remained at home in Pryluky. From May 2023 to April 2026, she only occasionally came to the place of service, spending a total of 142 days there.

Despite this, she was regularly paid cash benefits and additional payments for allegedly performing combat missions.

She kept a blog and received combat pay

The State Bureau of Investigation noted that in fact the woman was engaged in housekeeping, blogging activities, and remotely resolved certain official issues.

She also actively published photos in military uniform on social networks.

According to the investigation, the lieutenant colonel concealed her absence from the unit, facilitated the execution of documents with false information, and ensured the subsequent accrual of payments. In addition, he did not inform the command about his close relationship with the servicewoman.

The woman was a citizen of the Russian Federation

Investigators also established that at the time of the start of cohabitation in 2021, the woman was a citizen of Russia and had a temporary residence permit in Ukraine.

She received Ukrainian citizenship only in 2026, after which she was discharged from military service. At the same time, she still has a Russian passport valid until 2030.

Both were informed of the suspicion

The lieutenant colonel is charged with aiding and abetting military service evasion, abuse of official position, and official forgery.

His roommates reported suspicion of evading military service and abetting military service abuse.

If convicted, the defendants face up to 10 years in prison.