Case on employment in SBU brought to court in Odesa

Odesa law enforcement officers have brought to court the case of a 44-year-old local resident who promised to defer mobilization in exchange for $5,500 by "getting a job" with the SBU. He faces up to eight years in prison with confiscation of property.

This was reported by the press service of the National Police in Odesa region.

According to the investigation, last fall, the man offered his friend, who was subject to conscription, "help" in postponing mobilization. He claimed that he could influence SBU officers and arrange for his "client" to become a "freelance agent" and demanded $5,500 for this. When the person liable for military service doubted and refused, the offender threatened to inform the TCC and the JV, which would lead to a call-up for military service.

The police detained the suspect at a gas station in Kyivskyi district of Odesa after receiving most of the "reward" - USD 4,400 and copies of the victim's documents. Investigators seized money, phones and other items relevant to the investigation.

PHOTO: od.npu.gov.ua

The court imposed on the suspect a pre-trial restraint in the form of detention with the possibility of bail in the amount of UAH 242,240, which he used.

The pre-trial investigation has now been completed, and the indictment has been sent to court. The man is accused of trading in influence with bribe extortion, which is punishable by up to eight years in prison with confiscation of property. The prosecution in court will be supported by the Kyiv District Prosecutor's Office of Odesa.

The man was detained in early November 2025. According to the investigation, the suspect offered the 26-year-old man assistance in granting a deferral from mobilization to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Last year, the police also detained a man in Odesa who demanded $25,000 from a man for assistance in getting him employed by the SBU. According to the investigation, a 33-year-old resident of Odesa extorted $25,000 from a young man who intended to join the Security Service of Ukraine. For this amount, the offender guaranteed him employment. At the same time, in case of refusal, he threatened that it would be problematic to get a job in a law enforcement agency.

Анна Бальчінос