The State Bureau of Investigation exposed the deputy commander of a military unit in the Lviv region, who was sending soldiers to perform private work. Instead of working, the soldiers laid paving stones, renovated his home, and installed grave markers.
The State Bureau of Investigation reported this.
According to the investigation, the deputy commander "assisted" a businessman he knew, who complained about a lack of workers to lay paving stones. At his request, the commander "assigned" several soldiers who were actually working for the businessman.
From March to September 2025, these soldiers, receiving their unit's pay, laid paving stones at several sites in the Lviv region. The work was commissioned by the local communities with which the entrepreneur had contracts.
The amount of damage caused to the state budget due to the absence of military personnel from duty is currently being determined by forensic economic examinations.
"It was also established that during his vacation, the deputy commander engaged three subordinates in renovations to his own home in the Vinnytsia region, and they also installed monuments at the graves of his parents. Furthermore, according to preliminary information, the official obstructed the execution of a high command order to send one of the servicemen to the combat zone, encouraging him to leave his unit without permission," the statement reads.
The deputy commander was notified of suspicion under Part 5 of Article 426-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – abuse of power or official authority by a military official.
The charge carries a sentence of up to five years in prison. The suspect has been remanded in custody with the right to post bail in excess of 1 million hryvnias. He has also been suspended from his position.
