Lieutenant Colonel in Odesa pleads guilty and finds himself in a debate

The Kyiv court of Odesa approved the plea agreement concluded by the lieutenant colonel and the prosecutor on the abuse of influence.

As stated in the verdict, the serviceman promised to influence the decision to receive a deferral from mobilization in exchange for money.

He was sentenced to two years in prison, but commuted to two years of service in a disciplinary battalion. In September 2025, the lieutenant colonel offered his friend to influence the doctors of the military medical commission, asking for 2 thousand dollars in the United States.

He received the bribe in installments, first $500 in October of that year, and then another $1,500. In addition to influencing the MEC, the military officer also promised his client to take him off the wanted list. The court took into account that the convict pleaded guilty in full, his lack of convictions for service in the Armed Forces, positive characteristics and sincere remorse.

Earlier, in Odesa region, police detained a serviceman of one of the military units stationed in the region on suspicion of influence peddling.

The 28-year-old soldier organized an illegal enrichment scheme. He extorted money from men of conscription age for their registration in rear units with fictitious service. This, he said, allowed him to avoid further assignment to combat units. He promised to influence the relevant decisions through the right people in the military .

Earlier, in Odesa, law enforcement officers exposed an official of one of the district territorial centers for recruitment and social support who demanded money for influencing personnel decisions. In return for UAH 300,000, he promised to help a soldier of an assault regiment transfer from the front line to a rear unit and to assist in his subsequent dismissal.

In Odesa, the sale of rescue squad certificates to avoid mobilization was also exposed. The men were promised to "solve the issue" of conscription through influence on the TCC.

Кирило Бойко