The head of the Department of Children's Affairs in the Mykolaiv region was involved in a scheme involving fictitious guardianships

In the Mykolaiv region, the head of the children’s affairs department at one of the city councils in the Voznesensk district promised to help active-duty military personnel “discharge” from the army in exchange for $2,500.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) press center reported on the scheme involving fictitious guardianship.

According to the case file, the suspect helped clients prepare the necessary documents to become guardians of relatives who allegedly required constant care.

To carry out the scheme, the suspect used his personal connections at the district military registration and enlistment office.

Another scheme involved bribes for illegal discharge from service.

In Mykolaiv, a military officer was also detained for extorting a substantial sum from the relatives of another servicemember in exchange for his illegal discharge from service on grounds of “poor health.” To carry out the scheme, the suspect planned to use his personal connections among officials at the Medical Examination Commission.

According to the regional National Police press service, the servicemember met with the woman in person and offered to resolve the issue regarding her husband—who had been discharged—in exchange for money.

He promised to influence officials at the military unit to agree to reinstate him to active duty. He also promised to negotiate with representatives of the Medical Examination Commission to prepare the necessary documents so that the man would continue to be deemed unfit for military service.

<picture></picture><span> </span>Police in Mykolaiv detained the serviceman. Photo: National Police in the Odesa region.<span> </span>

The suspect demanded $16,000 for his services, law enforcement officials added.

Police detained the serviceman while he was receiving part of the payment—$4,000. Investigators informed him that he is suspected of violating Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine—accepting a bribe for personal gain in exchange for influencing a decision made by a person authorized to perform state functions, combined with extortion of such a benefit.

He faces up to eight years in prison with confiscation of property.

The SBU clarified that the detainee was a mechanic-driver at a military unit.

Ірина Глухова