Extorted $6,000: Military personnel and associate exposed for taking bribes in Ternopil region of Ukraine to secure rear-area military service

In the Ternopil region of Ukraine, employees of the National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine have exposed a military officer and his accomplice for extorting $6,000 in bribe money in exchange for ensuring the continuation of military service in rear areas.

The Security Service of Ukraine press service reports this.

“The military counterintelligence of the Security Service has exposed a corruption scheme involving a village council deputy in the Ternopil region, who was conscripted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and is currently serving in the region. He offered his ‘assistance’ to other conscripts in avoiding scheduled rotations to the combat zone on the southern and eastern fronts of Ukraine in exchange for money. It has been documented that he approached a serviceman from the local military enlistment office with this offer, who was supposed to be sent to the front lines. For $6,000, the deputy promised the serviceman that he would ‘arrange’ a deferral of his service assignment to the front with his superiors. The official engaged an acquaintance who is a businessman as an intermediary for passing the bribe,” the statement says.

Law enforcement officers apprehended the deputy and his accomplice “in the act” while they were transferring the entire amount of illicit gain in Ternopil.

Based on the collected evidence, both detainees have been informed of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of influence).

At present, they are being held in custody as a preventive measure. The culprits could face up to 8 years in prison with property confiscation.

Currently, the involvement of the local military enlistment office leadership in the corruption scheme is being investigated.