A Ukrainian Defense Ministry official organized a €432,000 scheme: fuel was written off and sold

In Ukraine, investigators have uncovered a scheme to embezzle fuel intended for the Armed Forces. According to the investigation, the organizer was the head of a department within the Ministry of Defense’s Directorate for assessing compliance of rear/logistics property.

He allegedly involved in the crime the head of one of the General Staff’s departments and the head of the fuel-and-lubricants service of a military unit.

This was reported by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI/DBR) and the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO). According to investigators, from 2022 to 2025 the organizer artificially inflated fuel needs. He then recorded its “use” in paperwork or оформлял activities to justify writing the fuel off.

Investigators documented the theft and sale of 500 tons of fuel—specifically 133 tons of gasoline and more than 364 tons of diesel. The stolen fuel is valued at nearly 22 million hryvnias (about €432,780). The fuel was then illegally sold in large batches in Mykolaiv region at 28–35 hryvnias (€0.55–0.69) per liter, and the proceeds were distributed among the participants.

According to the SBI, in their correspondence the suspects referred to fuel as “milk,” and the money received as “cutlets.” The suspects are currently in custody.

Three participants have been served notices of suspicion under:

• Part 4, Article 410 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code — theft/embezzlement/extortion of military property (maximum penalty: up to 15 years in prison);

• Part 1, Article 366 — official forgery (maximum penalty: up to 3 years in prison).

The SBI says it is taking measures to recover the damage to the state. The case is being handled by the Mykolaiv Specialized Defense Prosecutor’s Office for the Southern Region.