In Odesa, the deputy commander of a Territorial Defense battalion is suspected of making illegal payments to military personnel
According to the investigation, he drew up documents alleging the participation of 11 subordinates in combat, after which they were paid more than 550,000 hryvnias
In Odesa, the deputy commander of a separate guard and service battalion of the Regional Directorate of the Territorial Defense Forces was notified of suspicion of exceeding official powers during martial law. This was reported by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office of the Southern Region.
The investigation found that from July to December 2025 the serviceman was on assignment to carry out combat tasks. During this period he prepared and signed reports alleging the participation of 11 subordinate servicemen in combat operations.
Law enforcement officers say that in fact these servicemen did not perform the corresponding combat tasks. However, based on the issued documents they were unjustifiably credited and paid an additional monetary reward «Defender’s Bonus». The total amount of illegal payments exceeded 550 thousand hryvnias.
The amount of damage caused to the state has been confirmed by the conclusion of a forensic economic examination.
The suspect was detained in the manner provided for by Articles 208 and 615 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. The court imposed a preventive measure of detention with the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 266 240 hryvnias.
The man is charged with exceeding official powers by a military service person during martial law — part 5 of Article 426–1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The article’s sanction provides for up to 12 years of imprisonment.
Pre-trial investigation and operational support are being carried out by investigators and operational officers of the Second Investigative Department, stationed in Odesa, of the Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigations in Mykolaiv.
As previously reported, the Armed Forces of Ukraine explained a complaint by fighters of the 108th Territorial Defense Brigade, who had reported a lack of rotation and problems with supply.
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