Charges Brought Against Viktor Boyko and Accomplices
The Cherkasy Regional Prosecutor's Office has formally charged Viktor Boyko, a former member of parliament and ex-Minister of Environmental Protection, along with a company director and an accountant. According to officials, they are accused of orchestrating a scheme to embezzle over 5.6 million Ukrainian hryvnias (UAH) in state grant funds allocated to support the processing industry.
Boyko, who served as Ukraine's Minister of Environmental Protection from March to July 2010 under President Viktor Yanukovych, currently chairs the supervisory board of a Kyiv-based higher education institution. In early 2024, he allegedly organized a plan to misappropriate budget funds by submitting a business proposal to Ukraine's Ministry of Economy for purchasing an animal feed production line and creating new jobs. After the application was approved, the company received over 5.6 million UAH in state funding.
Mechanism of Budget Fund Misappropriation
The funds were transferred to a company under their control using documents containing false information. The equipment specified in the business plan was never actually purchased, and no new jobs were created. The grant money was used for purposes other than intended. Between 2024 and 2026, documents were submitted to the bank and other institutions falsely claiming that the grant conditions had been met.
“Subsequently, the money was transferred to an account of a controlled entity based on documents with false information. The equipment outlined in the business plan was never acquired. No new jobs were created. And the grant funds were used for unintended purposes. To conceal the scheme, between 2024 and 2026, documents were submitted to the bank and other institutions claiming the grant program's conditions had been fulfilled.” — Office of the Prosecutor General
According to a forensic economic examination, the state budget suffered losses exceeding 5.6 million UAH. The former MP and ex-minister is charged with organizing the misappropriation of another's property on an especially large scale, official forgery committed by a group of individuals through prior conspiracy, and money laundering (Articles 27.3, 191.5, 28.2, 366.1, and 209.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The company director and accountant are charged with aiding in the misappropriation of funds on an especially large scale, official forgery, and money laundering (Articles 27.2, 27.5, 191.5, 28.2, 366.1, and 209.2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
This case highlights ongoing concerns about transparency in Ukraine's use of public funds, particularly within programs designed to bolster the processing industry. It underscores the need for stricter oversight in grant approvals and verification of compliance with funding conditions to prevent abuse and ensure efficient use of budget resources. Investigations into such incidents are a critical step in combating corruption at the state level.
This case is not isolated, as Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies are actively addressing various schemes involving significant public funds. For instance, a recent investigation uncovered a theft operation related to military parts, amounting to $9.5 million. Such incidents highlight the ongoing challenges in combating corruption and ensuring accountability in the use of state resources. To learn more about this alarming trend, read about the recent military parts theft scheme.