Prosecutors of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Prosecutor's Office, together with law enforcement agencies, have uncovered a large-scale scheme of abuses, as a result of which the state budget has suffered losses of over 10 million hryvnias, and undeclared property worth over 30 million hryvnias has been discovered.

As a result of the investigation, 13 individuals have been notified of 14 suspicions regarding the misappropriation of budget funds, abuse of power or official position, illegal enrichment, and declaration of false information (Part 4 of Article 191, Part 1, 2 of Article 364, Part 1 of Article 366, Part 1 of Article 366-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Among the suspects are officials from local self-government bodies, executive authorities, heads of communal enterprises, and private companies, including:

• The head of the Main Department of the State Geocadastre in Khmelnytskyi region (currently holds a position in the Volyn Regional State Administration) – issued illegal orders for the transfer of 49 hectares of agricultural land to third parties;

•  The head of the emergency rescue squad of the State Emergency Service in Khmelnytskyi region – during state procurement in wartime, ensured unjustified inflation of the cost of rescue kits for a private enterprise;

• The head of the landscaping department of the Khmelnytskyi City Council, acting director of the communal enterprise "Parks and Squares," and the director of the contracting company – conspired to misappropriate budget funds during the establishment of a public toilet;

• The acting head of the Yarmolynets Village Council, a technical supervision engineer, and the director of the company – are suspected of misappropriating funds allocated for road repairs and the purchase of generators;

• The head of the Polonne City Council – failed to amend the contract of the communal institution, resulting in the unjustified payment of inflated salaries to its management;

• The acting head of the Slobidsko-Kulchiyevetz Village Council – provided false information in session decisions regarding the return of equity participation, which led to the misappropriation of budget funds.

In addition, three city council deputies did not declare property in their declarations totaling over 30 million hryvnias.

Pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Measures are being taken to ensure the recovery of damages and to identify other individuals involved in committing criminal offenses.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a court verdict.