The SBU uncovered the embezzlement of over ₴12 million allocated for 580 FPV drones for troops on the Kharkiv front

Security Service of Ukraine reported the uncovering of a scheme in which more than over UAH 12 million allocated for the purchase of 580 FPV drones for the military on the Kharkiv direction were embezzled. According to the SBU, none of these drones reached the army.

Investigators believe the organizer of the scheme was the former commander of a territorial defense brigade from the Kyiv region. According to the security service, he acted in collusion with three other people.

Case materials indicate the official formalized fake contracts for the supply of weapons and also submitted forged acceptance-transfer certificates for signature.

To hide the absence of drones during inspections, the ex-commander, according to investigators, demanded that subordinates state in documents that the drones had been lost in combat.

SBU officers detained the former commander and three of his accomplices. The ex-commander has already been dismissed from his post.

The detainees were notified of suspicion under part 2 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Pre-trial investigative actions are ongoing.

The SBU also reminded that in August 2026 an entrepreneur from Pivdennoukrainsk was notified of suspicion of embezzling more than over UAH 260,000 of budget funds. According to the case, the money may have been embezzled during repairs of the shelter of one of the local lyceums.

Earlier we wrote:

• Grenade launchers from the 1980s passed off as new: SBU investigates weapons procurement worth UAH 637 million
• Drones for the Armed Forces: Mykolaiv residents handed over a new batch to the military
• SBU and Ministry of Defense uncovered an attempt to embezzle UAH 1.5 billion on the procurement of artillery shells for the Armed Forces
• SBU exposed a former deputy defense minister for embezzling almost UAH 1 billion
• Over UAH 1 billion embezzled: former deputy defense minister and his subordinate charged