Military personnel repaired a colonel’s mother-in-law’s house in Rivne Oblast instead of performing their duties

In the Rivne region, a 51-year-old colonel who previously served as deputy commander of a military unit will stand trial. The charges concern using subordinates for private construction work instead of military service, as well as illegal handling of ammunition. The case was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General. According to gp.gov.ua.

According to the prosecution, from January 2025 to May 2026, the officer assigned two service members to renovate his mother-in-law’s house, where the colonel also lived. Instead of performing their military duties, the subordinates:

• repaired the roof;
• poured the foundation;
• built a fence;
• landscaped the property;
• transported construction materials in a service vehicle.

The investigation alleges that the colonel excused the service members from duty rosters and allowed them to leave their posts. During the period they worked on the private project, they were unlawfully paid nearly 536,000 hryvnias in military compensation and additional remuneration from the state budget.

A separate episode in the case concerns ammunition. During a search of the colonel’s residence on May 13, 2026, authorities seized 552 rounds of various calibers, including 242 live rounds and 310 sporting pistol rounds. According to investigators, the man acquired and stored them illegally.

The colonel has been charged with:

• abuse of office;
• organizing the evasion of military service by subordinates under martial law;
• illegal handling of ammunition.

The officer has already been transferred to another position. An order has also been issued assigning him to a combat unit.

The subordinates pleaded guilty to evading service. The court has already sentenced them under plea agreements with the prosecutor.

We previously reported:

• Instead of serving, they built a private house: around 83 service members found at the construction site
• Combat pay without combat missions: service member caused ₴154,000 in losses to the state
• Four schemes selling rear-area positions uncovered: nearly UAH 2 million for transfers
• A fake headquarters and millions in losses: Ukrainian Armed Forces officers suspected of large-scale fraud
• Commander put soldiers to work building his house: nearly a million hryvnias in “combat” payments received