A former Territorial Defense commander allocated nearly €23,000 in payments to his wife for fictitious participation in combat operations

A former commander of one of the Territorial Defense brigades arranged for his wife to receive nearly one million hryvnias (approximately €23,000) in payments for fictitious participation in combat operations.

This was reported by Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).

According to the investigation, in late July 2023, the officer staged a fake divorce from his wife to avoid breaking the law. He then arranged for her to join his brigade as a rifleman.

However, despite the divorce, they “remained relatives.” It is noted that two subordinates of the commander falsified documents regarding the woman’s “participation” in combat operations on the front line.

The woman, meanwhile, stayed near her husband during her service and was engaged in horse breeding on a farm. She also left her military unit without authorization to travel to Poland for two weeks.

Charges have been filed against the commander, his subordinates, and his wife. The latter is also charged with unauthorized absence from her unit.