A district military enlistment and social protection official has been exposed for promising to help a serviceman avoid responsibility for unauthorized abandonment of service and to secure a position in exchange for money.

Under the procedural guidance of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the field of defense of the Southern region, he has been notified of suspicion of receiving unlawful benefits for influencing the decision-making of officials, combined with extortion.

According to the investigation, it concerns the head of a group in one of the departments of the RTC and SP of the Odesa region. In November 2025, he learned about a serviceman who had deserted but wanted to return to service.

The official offered "assistance" for 10 thousand US dollars. 

For this money, he promised to help with the appointment to a vacant position in the TCK and SP, in particular, to provide the necessary written consent, as well as to "resolve the issue" with law enforcement regarding the closure of the case for desertion.

In case of refusal to pay, he threatened to inform law enforcement about the fact of desertion and create problems with further service.

Law enforcement documented his receipt of illegal benefits in parts: in January 2026 - 1,000 US dollars, in February - 2,000 dollars, and in March another 3,000 dollars. During the transfer of the last amount, which took place under the control of law enforcement, the official was detained under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine.

He was informed of the suspicion under part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for up to 8 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

He was chosen a preventive measure of detention with a bail of 998,400 UAH.

Law enforcement is also establishing the possible involvement of other officials and checking information regarding additional episodes of illegal activity.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by investigators of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Odesa region, with operational support provided by the Department of Military Counterintelligence of the SBU and the Strategic Investigations Department in the Odesa region.

The exposure occurred within the framework of the "Reverse Side of the TCC and VLC" program aimed at combating corruption in the mobilization sector. 

In total, throughout 2026, under the procedural guidance of specialized prosecutors in the defense sector, 78 officials of the TCC and SP and VLC were notified of suspicion in 59 criminal proceedings for committing corruption-related criminal offenses associated with mobilization. The documented amount of unlawful benefit amounted to 191 thousand US dollars and 303 thousand hryvnias and 2 cars.

Note: according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a court verdict.