Within the framework of the program to expose illegal actions of military officials during procurement for the Defense Forces of Ukraine "Unfair Procurement," in 2026, under the procedural guidance of specialized prosecutors in the defense sector, 40 individuals have been notified of suspicion in 20 criminal proceedings for abuses and negligence during procurement. The total amount of damages is 3.2 billion UAH.

In particular, within the implementation of the "Unfair Procurement" program in Odesa and Mykolaiv regions, new schemes for the purchase of fuel wood at inflated prices have been uncovered and stopped. Former officials of the Housing and Utility Departments (KEV) are accused of causing damages to the state exceeding 4.4 million UAH.

Odesa Region: Inflated Prices for Firewood Almost Doubled

Under the procedural guidance of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the defense sector of the Southern region, a former head of the design and estimate group of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi housing and utility unit has been exposed.

He has been notified of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (service negligence that caused severe consequences).

According to the investigation, the official responsible for procurement did not conduct a market analysis during the purchase of wood for military units, did not economically justify the cost of the goods, and independently set the price, inflating it by almost double.

In October 2023 and February 2024, two contracts were concluded with individual entrepreneurs for the supply of over 2,000 cubic meters of firewood at knowingly inflated prices. As a result, over 2 million UAH was unjustifiably transferred, causing damages to the state.

Mykolaiv Region: Embezzlement Scheme through a Controlled Enterprise

Under the procedural guidance of the Mykolaiv Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the defense sector of the Southern region, former head and authorized procurement officer of the KEV in Mykolaiv have been exposed.

They have been notified of suspicion under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (embezzlement of property through abuse of office).

The investigation has established that the suspects organized a scheme for embezzling budget funds during the procurement of wood for military units in the region. Despite the possibility of purchasing firewood from the branches of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine" at market prices, they involved a controlled enterprise that did not actually conduct any economic activity.

In November 2022, without conducting open tenders, a contract was concluded with this enterprise for the supply of wood at inflated prices, although it did not actually supply any firewood.

Instead, 3,000 cubic meters of wood were purchased from third parties at a lower price, and the difference of over 2.4 million UAH was embezzled, causing damages to the state.

Pre-trial investigations are being conducted by the police investigators of Odesa and the Territorial Department of the State Bureau of Investigations in Mykolaiv, with operational support from the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police of Ukraine and procedural guidance from specialized prosecutors in the defense sector of the Southern region.

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.