Position: Commander of Logistics of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Sphere of corrupt activity: military.
Region of corruption activity: Zhytomyr region.
Qualification: actions are qualified under Part 5 of Article 426-1, Part 3 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Status: in custody.
Case story: On February 25, 2026, the Security Service of Ukraine exposed a large-scale scheme to embezzle funds from the defense budget of Ukraine, involving the commander of logistics of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the head of the Security Service department in the Zhytomyr region.
As the investigation established, the defendants organized a scheme to embezzle state funds during the construction of fortifications. This involved the arrangement of additional protection at strategically important facilities, in particular, operational airfields of the Defense Forces.
The SSU reported that in May 2025, 1.4 billion hryvnias were allocated for the construction of prefabricated arch shelters.
Inspections showed that the designs did not meet safety requirements, the shelters did not provide adequate protection for the aircraft, and the cost of the work was overstated. Despite this, advance payments began to be made to the contractors.
To stop inspections and hide the embezzlement of funds, officials, according to the investigation, organized the transfer of a bribe worth about 13 million hryvnias.
SSU internal security officers detained both suspects "red-handed" while transferring $320,000 to them.
According to media reports, the detainees are Colonel Andriy Ukrainets (Commander of Logistics of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine) and Colonel Volodymyr Kompanichenko (Head of the SBU Department in Zhytomyr Region).
The Air Force Command responded to reports of the detention of one of its top officials. The department emphasized that it categorically condemns manifestations of corruption offenses and is ready to cooperate with investigative bodies to establish all the circumstances of the case.
An internal investigation has been ordered in the Air Force to determine the reasons for the potential violation. The Air Force Command is also taking measures to strengthen control over the transparency of resource use and optimize procurement procedures.
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko reported that the detainees were suspected of abuse of power and official authority committed in a prior conspiracy, as well as offering and providing illegal benefits (Part 5 of Article 426-1, Part 3 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
On February 27, a court chose a preventive measure for Andriy Ukrainyets, the Air Force Logistics Commander who was detained the day before and is suspected of a large-scale scheme to embezzle money from the defense budget. He was placed in custody with the possibility of posting bail, Suspilne reported.
The court chose a preventive measure for the Ukrainian in the form of detention for two months - until April 25 inclusive. The logistics commander can also post bail in the amount of 7 million hryvnias. According to prosecutor Oleksandr Smirnov, the prosecution requested 14 million hryvnias as bail.
If bail is posted, Andriy Ukrainets must:
· arrive at the first summons of a judge or investigator;
· do not travel outside the Zhytomyr region;
· submit a foreign passport;
· refrain from communicating with Volodymyr Kompanichenko.
The Ukrainian's defense team stated that the suspicion against him is unfounded. The lawyers claim that the Ukrainian was appointed to the position on November 8, 2025, and "all the events took place before him." In addition, the lawyer for the appointed person, Serhiy Mas, expressed doubts that his client could post bail. According to him, the Ukrainian is dependent on his parents and a minor child, and no money was found on him during the searches.
On the same day, the court remanded Volodymyr Kompanichenko, head of the SBU department of the Zhytomyr region, into custody.
Kompanichenko was sent to custody for 60 days with the possibility of bail in the amount of 6.98 million hryvnias.
On March 5, bail was posted for the former head of the SSU in the Zhytomyr region, Volodymyr Kompanichenko, who appears in a corruption case during the construction of aircraft shelters.
Persons potentially involved in corruption schemes: Colonel, Head of the SBU Department in Zhytomyr Region Volodymyr Kompanichenko.
Assets: in the 2025 declaration, the Ukrainian indicated that he owns an apartment in the Zhytomyr region, six land plots, a residential building, and a garage. At the same time, his wife Yulia owns two apartments (in Zhytomyr and Vinnytsia), three land plots, and a residential building.
The Ukrainian declared only one car as a means of transport – an AZLK. At the same time, his wife Yulia owns another car – a VAZ, and also has the right to use an Audi Q5 (worth 1,955,000 hryvnias), which allegedly belongs to her relative.
The total income of the Ukrainian for the same year was 1,858,727 hryvnias, his wife's - 710,518 hryvnias.
The Ukrainian declared $25,000 and €20,000 in cash, and 374,577 hryvnias and $301 in his bank accounts. His wife Yulia declared $3,000 and €220 in cash, and 28,408 hryvnias in her bank account.
Persons who should have reacted: although both participants in the corruption scheme were suspected, SBU officers should have paid attention to their criminal activities earlier.
Scandals: after the indictment was served, it became known that the family of Andriy Ukrainets, the Air Force Logistics Commander, who was detained on suspicion of bribery, has acquired real estate worth approximately $1 million in recent years. This was reported in the Bihus.Info investigation.
According to journalists, a significant portion of the property is registered in the name of the retired parents of the colonel, who is suspected of involvement in a large-scale scheme to embezzle funds from the defense budget.
In particular, the official's 72-year-old mother, Olga Ukrainets, registered an individual entrepreneur in 2025, after which she purchased apartments in the Mountain Residence complex in the Bukovel ski resort. The cost of such housing is estimated at approximately UAH 6.5 million.
The colonel's mother also owns an estate near Zhytomyr and several apartments in Kyiv, including the Faina Town and Varshavsky residential complexes. Investigators note that the pensioner was not involved in business before registering her business activities.
Part of the assets is also registered in the name of the 26-year-old son of the Ukrainian, Ilya, who recently graduated from Vinnytsia National Medical University named after M. I. Pirogov and currently works as a doctor. He owns an apartment in the Kiev residential complex "Varshavsky", several houses and land plots in the Zhytomyr region, as well as a parking space in a new residential complex near Zhytomyr.
According to journalists' estimates, the total value of the property acquired by the family in recent years may be about $1 million. At the same time, the military man's declarations only list several plots of land, an apartment, and two old cars - a Moskvich and a Volkswagen Passat.
Sources:
https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/koruptsiya-aerodromah-sud-zaareshtuvav-topchinovnika-1772210795.html
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/55dfab23-595a-4ec7-a62c-6da5ab9e065f