Assets of a former community leader in the Kherson region were seized in connection with reservation schemes

A court has seized the assets of the former head of the Novovorontsov District State Administration in the Kherson region, who is suspected of embezzling public funds and obstructing mobilization. According to investigators, he falsely employed 11 people, and some of them were exempted from mobilization. 

The Center for Public Investigations examined the details of the case.

According to the investigation, the then-head of the Novovorontsov Rural Military Administration, along with other officials, arranged for people to be hired who did not actually perform their duties.

At the village council, people were hired, in particular, as public works employees. According to the case file, five others were hired by the “Dnipro” municipal enterprise, and two by the “Kommunservice” municipal enterprise. They were paid salaries even though, according to the investigation, they never showed up for work. Law enforcement officials estimated the total amount of losses at over 1.09 million hryvnias.

In addition, investigators believe that the fictitious employment scheme was used to exempt individuals subject to military conscription. Between April 2025 and June 2026, 11 people may have been exempted in this manner. 

According to law enforcement, the deputy head of the Novovorontsov Town Military Administration, the head of the general department, and employees responsible for maintaining attendance records and accounting may also have been involved in the scheme. 

Since November 2022, Andriy Seletskyi, head of the Novovorontsov Town Military Administration, had been serving as acting chairman of the Novovorontsov Town Council. 

On August 17, the President of Ukraine dismissed Seletsky from his position as head of the Novovorontsov Town Military Administration. As early as August 26, the official was notified of charges under articles concerning embezzlement of property and obstruction of the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 

In early September, the former head of the Novovorontsov Military Administration, Andriy Seletskyi; the director of the municipal enterprise “Kommunservice,” Serhii Pylypenko; and the head of the municipal enterprise “Dnipro,” Serhii Shevchenko, were taken into custody and had bail set.

Анна Літман