Payments to fictitious servicemen and private work: the State Bureau of Investigations plans searches in the Mykolaiv region

20 August 2026 the State Bureau of Investigation, together with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General, launched a large-scale operation “Justice for Fighters”. Its goal is to expose servicemen who are only formally in service, who illegally receive payments, or who work for the private interests of commanders. This was reported by the State Bureau of Investigation. Law enforcement pay special attention to cases when subordinates, instead of performing military tasks, were engaged in construction, household and other private work.

Investigative actions are being carried out in various regions of Ukraine. The State Bureau of Investigation has not yet disclosed the names of the military units or the specific regions.

Planned as part of the operation:

• 72 searches;
• 21 criminal cases;
• suspicions against 22 individuals.

The bulk of the investigations concern the illegal accrual and receipt of military payments. As part of 12 such cases, law enforcement is conducting 58 searches. Based on their results, they plan to notify suspicions to 20 people. Another 5 searches are being conducted in a case concerning the illegal use of servicemen’s labor. In the proceeding related to corruption abuses, 9 searches and suspicions for two suspects are planned.

In addition, the State Bureau of Investigation completed the investigation of another four criminal cases related to illegal payments to servicemen. Indictments against 16 people are planned to be submitted to court.

The State Bureau of Investigation noted that the operation is being carried out with the assistance of the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Its task was named as the cessation of the practice when servicemen are used not for the defense of the state, and budget funds are spent not as intended.

The operation “Justice for Fighters” became a continuation of the SBI’s systematic work in the military sphere. Previously, the Bureau conducted the operation “Honest Conscription”, aimed at combating corruption schemes in territorial recruitment and social support centers. At that time, law enforcement checked the illegal removal of those liable for military service from the register, schemes to evade mobilization, and the receipt of bribes. The SBI promises to publish detailed results of the new operation after the completion of the initial investigative actions.