Odesa Resident Misappropriates ₴3.38M in Donations for Armed Forces

Law enforcers exposed a 45-year-old resident of Odesa district on misappropriation of funds raised to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The man was served a notice of suspicion in absentia and is wanted.

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

According to the investigation, in July 2022, the suspect sent letters to entrepreneurs calling for donations for ammunition for the Ukrainian military, but appropriated a significant portion of the funds received. It was established that over nine months he received donations in the amount of over UAH 5 million, of which UAH 3,381,100 were misappropriated.

During the searches, the police seized material evidence confirming the criminal scheme. According to the police, the suspect left Ukraine under the pretext of charitable activities and is currently wanted. He was served a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 201-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for imprisonment for up to 7 years, deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to 3 years, and confiscation of property.

The suspect is currently wanted and measures are being taken to detain him. The investigation is ongoing. Other persons who may be involved in the criminal scheme are being identified.

Earlier, in Odesa, state funds allocated for the purchase of solid fuel for the Armed Forces of Ukraine were seized. Officials were involved in the embezzlement. They are promised to be sent to the dock.

Officials of a utility company from Odesa region and their suppliers were also accused of embezzling 2.5 million hryvnias of budget funds. They organized a tender that was won by a company under their control, which sold heat pumps to the utility at an inflated price.

Also, the head of a military unit in the Kherson region was exposed for "selling" vacations to his subordinates.

Ірина Глухова