Verdict from Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court
On April 7, 2026, Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) sentenced the former first deputy director of the Kharkiv State Aviation Manufacturing Enterprise to nine years in prison. The court found him guilty of embezzling company funds and forging documents. The trial was conducted in absentia because the defendant is located in occupied territory, highlighting the ongoing challenges Ukraine's judicial system faces due to the war.
Criminal Actions and Financial Impact
According to the verdict, the defendant committed criminal acts between May 2013 and January 2015. His actions violated Part 5 of Article 191 and Part 1 of Article 366 of Ukraine's Criminal Code. His schemes caused total losses of approximately 30 million Ukrainian hryvnias (UAH) to the state-owned enterprise. As part of these crimes, he transferred:
- 553.24 thousand euros
- over 1.93 million US dollars
to a foreign-registered business entity controlled by a German citizen. The stated purpose was to pay for agency services related to selling military-purpose goods, but these services were never provided.
In a separate scheme in October 2014, a contract was signed for the supply of two aviation systems, with an advance payment of 472 thousand US dollars transferred. To conceal the crime, the defendant signed a supplementary agreement citing an inability to deliver on time. In February 2017, he forged documents concerning the delivery deadlines, setting a final date of December 31, 2017. The losses from this second scheme exceeded 6 million UAH.
The court also imposed an additional punishment, banning the convicted official from holding certain positions for three years. The case was tried under a special in absentia procedure due to the defendant's absence from Ukrainian-controlled territory. This ruling is part of a broader, ongoing effort to hold officials accountable for corruption that damages state assets, even amidst the complexities of wartime jurisdiction.
As Ukraine continues to tackle corruption within its government agencies, the recent sentencing of the former Kharkiv Aviation Plant head underscores the broader issues facing the nation's judicial system. Similar cases, such as the upheld six-year sentence for a former tax chief, highlight the ongoing efforts to hold officials accountable for financial misconduct. For a closer look at another significant ruling in Ukraine's fight against corruption, see the case of the former tax chief.