The chief psychiatrist of the Ukrainian Armed Forces embezzled over $1 million during the conflict

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has detained the Chief Psychiatrist of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleh Druzy, on suspicion of illegal enrichment since the start of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

This information reported according to an SBU press release published on Tuesday, January 21.

The detained doctor serves as “Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Medical Commission and decides on the suitability of military personnel for service in the army.”

“Based on case materials, this official acquired unjustified assets worth over $1 million during the full-scale invasion. He did not disclose this property in his declaration, instead registering it under the names of his wife, daughter, sons, and other unrelated individuals,” the press release states.

The investigation found that between 2022 and 2024, the official acquired a house in Kyiv Oblast, two apartments in Kyiv, one apartment in Odesa, four BMW vehicles, and other property. Additionally, a search of his apartment revealed $152,000 and €34,000 in cash. The suspect has been charged under two articles: illegal enrichment and providing false information in declarations, which could result in up to 10 years in prison.

The SBU did not name the detained individual in its statement. However, Verkhovna Rada MP Oleksiy Honcharenko identified the person as Oleh Druzy about 30 minutes after the SBU’s release. Later, Honcharenko shared an “interesting fact” about the chief psychiatrist.

“In 2017, then-Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak dismissed him (Oleh Druzy) from his position as head of the psychiatry clinic at the main military clinical hospital after a scandal. At the time, Druzy stated that 93% of participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in Donbas were potential threats to society,” Honcharenko wrote.

In December 2023, the SBU detained a senior official from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense in Kyiv on suspicion of attempting to embezzle 1.5 billion hryvnias (approximately €36 million at the time) earmarked for purchasing artillery shells for the Armed Forces. Later, the Ministry of Defense’s Head of Press and Information, Illarion Pavlyuk, announced efforts to recover funds transferred to an ammunition supplier as part of a corruption scheme. According to Pavlyuk, “this was a contract for which payment was made, but no deliveries were completed.”

In August 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced plans to draft a bill equating wartime corruption with treason, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.