Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) and National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) have filed charges against several individuals involved in a corruption scheme related to the procurement of UAVs and electronic warfare (EW) systems. Among the suspects are a former head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration and an MP.
According to Ukrinform, SAPO announced the charges via Telegram.
The former regional governor and the MP are accused under Articles 191(5), 28(3), and 368(4) of Ukraine’s Criminal Code — misappropriation or embezzlement of property through abuse of office by an organized group, and accepting bribes.
Additional charges were brought against the head of a city military administration and a commander of a National Guard unit under the same statutes related to organized criminal conduct and bribery.
The actual beneficial owner and the director of a drone manufacturing company were also charged under Articles 191(5), 28(2), and 114-1 of the Criminal Code. In addition to misappropriation and participation in an organized group, they are accused of obstructing the lawful activities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Investigators allege they accepted payment to officially employ individuals and secure draft exemptions, thereby blocking their mobilization into the military.
NABU and SAPO uncovered a large-scale corruption scheme operating throughout 2024-2025. According to the investigation, an organized group systematically embezzled public funds allocated by local authorities for defense needs.
One case involves the purchase of electronic warfare systems at inflated prices, with kickbacks amounting to 30% of the contract value. A similar scheme was used in the procurement of FPV drones worth nearly UAH 10 million (approximately $250,000). The company supplied the drones at a price inflated by around $80,000, a portion of which was allegedly funneled back to members of the criminal group.
The prosecutor general has submitted a motion to the court seeking pretrial detention for the MP, with an alternative of bail set at UAH 30 million. Motions for preventive measures against other suspects have also been filed.
As reported earlier, following briefings by the heads of NABU and SAPO on August 2, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the exposure of a bribery case involving a member of parliament, local government officials, and National Guard officers.
Later, NABU and SAPO clarified that the case involved inflated state contracts for the supply of UAVs and EW systems, with up to 30% of the contract value being funneled back as illicit payments.
According to media reports, one of the key figures in the case is Serhii Haidai — then-head of the Mukachevo District State Administration in the Zakarpattia region and former head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration.
On August 2, Zelensky dismissed Haidai from his post in Mukachevo and Andrii Yurchenko from his role as head of the Rubizhne City Military Administration in the Sievierodonetsk district of the Luhansk region.
Photo: NABU/SAPO
Source: Corruption in drone and electronic warfare procurement: Ex-Luhansk governor, MP among those charged
