SBI exposes fuel theft scheme in Donetsk military unit

SBI officers detained and reported three officers of one of the military units in the Donetsk region on suspicion of stealing fuel. The commander of the material support battalion, his deputy, and the battalion headquarters officer indicated in their documents inflated figures for the military unit's use of fuel and lubricants.

The "surplus" obtained in this way was sold, and the money was divided among themselves.

Bureau employees documented fuel theft from September 2024 to January of this year. The suspects sold at least 10 tons of fuel and lubricants each month. The full amount of stolen fuel and damage caused will be determined by the investigation.

So far, law enforcement officers have conducted 9 searches at the residences and offices of military personnel. Money, 8 tons of fuel, documents confirming illegal activities, mobile phones, computer equipment, bank cards, and draft notes have been seized.

The organizer - the commander of the material support battalion and two participants in the scheme were notified of suspicion of theft of military property committed by an organized group under martial law (Part 3, Part 5 of Article 27, Part 3 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 410 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The sanction of the articles provides for a penalty of imprisonment for a term of up to 15 years. The suspects were chosen as a preventive measure in the form of detention with the right to post bail: the organizer of the transaction was set bail in the amount of 908 thousand 400 hryvnias, one of the accomplices – 605 thousand 600 hryvnias, another – 423 thousand 920 hryvnias.

The investigation is ongoing, other facts of illegal activity and the full range of persons involved are being established.

It was recently reported that in the Odessa region, the State Bureau of Investigation reported suspicions against a military unit official, due to whose negligence more than 2 million UAH in payments to missing soldiers were misappropriated .

In addition, SBI employees, in cooperation with the SID of the National Police, reported suspicions to a deputy of one of the city councils of the Kirovohrad region and his accomplices, who organized the purchase of clothing for the military of inadequate quality.