A journalist claimed that Shabunin received a certificate of participation in combat without being on the front line

Vitaliy Shabunin, head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, has reportedly received certification for participating in combat, despite not serving at the front or in the military.

This claim was made by journalist Volodymyr Boyko, who serves in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

According to Boyko, Shabunin was listed in the combat zone as a combat medic in the security platoon of the 101st Separate Guard Brigade of the General Staff.

Boyko alleges that Shabunin, an alleged draft dodger, never actually served as a combat medic, not once appearing in the unit, which was at the frontlines at the time. Despite this, Shabunin allegedly continued to receive payments. After three weeks, Rustem Umerov, then the Minister of Defense, reportedly transferred Shabunin to the ministry for further fictitious “service under mobilization during martial law.”

Boyko also claims that Shabunin, who “never served a day,” received combat pay and additional compensation. He notes that in December 2023, the current Chief of the General Staff, Borys Bargilevych (then Commander of the Territorial Defense Forces), approached the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) of Ukraine regarding Shabunin’s case, but no criminal investigation was opened.

Earlier media reports stated that after the war began, Shabunin was listed at a Kyiv Territorial Recruitment Center. Additionally, it was reported that the SBI of Ukraine ordered an investigation into Shabunin for driving a Nissan Pathfinder SUV purchased through donations for the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.