As part of a large-scale investigation into the embezzlement of public funds, law enforcement officers have announced suspicions against ten more suspects. The case is related to abuses during the implementation of projects in regions close to the combat zone. The total amount of established losses is already approaching 6 million hryvnias.
The scam involves a number of socially important projects funded by the state, particularly in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhia, and Sumy regions. Operatives from the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police uncovered schemes that covered various areas, from fictitious employment to shelter repairs and coal purchases for educational institutions.
In particular:
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Work on paper: officials registered people to work in municipal institutions who actually did not perform any duties. Their salaries were paid from the budget.
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Incomplete shelters: Shelters were found in schools and kindergartens that were either incomplete or completely unusable.
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Coal at sky-high prices: during inspections, it turned out that suppliers were inflating the cost of solid fuel when supplying it to educational institutions in front-line regions.
Investigators claim that the schemes involved not only local government officials, but also heads of utility companies and private contractors. They all acted in coordination, which allowed them to avoid responsibility for years.
All those involved in the case have already been served with suspicions. These are crimes classified under articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provide for liability for misappropriation of property, official forgery, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
The National Police notes that work to uncover such crimes has been intensified throughout the country, with a particular focus on regions where infrastructure restoration is underway after the Russian strikes.
Searches, seizure of documentation, and interrogation of witnesses are currently underway. Law enforcement officials promise that all those guilty of embezzling funds for frontline communities will be held accountable.
