In Odessa, the head of a psychiatric hospital ward was taken into custody for a new scheme

A courtordered Irina Melnichenko, the head of a department at the Odessa Mental Health Center, to be held in custody with the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 6.6 million hryvnias. The doctor is suspected of organizing a scheme to evade military conscription through fraudulent disability claims.

Intent learned this from a ruling by the Khadzhibey District Court of Odesa.

Melnichenko was detained by law enforcement on August 6.

What Is the Essence of the Scheme?

According to investigators, beginning in November 2025, the woman organized a scheme whereby men were provided grounds to travel abroad through the artificial creation of disability status.

She was in overall charge: she determined the route for medical examinations, the dates and locations of formal hospitalizations, selected departments and medical staff, and oversaw the transfer of money and additional payments for “expedited” processing.

Two other individuals were involved in the scheme: a woman who recruited clients and negotiated terms with them, and a medical worker from another department at the same facility who prepared documents containing false information about alleged inpatient treatment.

How the scheme worked, as illustrated by one of the clients

The investigation established that in November 2025, a man was offered the opportunity to obtain a Group II disability designation for $4,000, plus an additional $1,000–$1,500 for the “team of experts.”

The man underwent a sham consultation with a neurologist, who was allegedly instructed to artificially worsen the examination results, while the patient himself was told to report false symptoms such as migraines, insomnia, and bouts of aggression.

He was then admitted twice for inpatient treatment, even though he was not actually in the hospital. The money was transferred in installments—in cash in a supermarket parking lot and via bank transfers to a card.

On August 6, 2026, when the man handed over the final installment—$1,500—to the suspect’s accomplice, she was taken into custody by law enforcement. The mastermind behind the scheme was also taken into custody at that time.

Not the First Scandal

Iryna Melnychenko had already come to the attention of law enforcement in April 2024. At that time, she was detained while receiving $1,500 and 8,000 hryvnias—money she had demanded in exchange for her husband’s hospitalization and subsequent classification as having a Group I disability, which could have allowed a relative to obtain a deferment from mobilization on the grounds of providing care. 

Following that scandal, the doctor was dismissed from her position as head of Ward No. 18. Melnichenko challenged the dismissal in court—the Peresipsky District Court of Odessa ruled that the dismissal was unlawful and reinstated her to her position effective December 16, 2025, and also ordered that she be paid 163,000 hryvnias in compensation for her forced absence from work. This decision was appealed to the Odessa Court of Appeals.

Ірина Глухова