A deputy unit commander in Zhytomyr region was exposed by the State Bureau of Investigation for sham enlistment of a friend

Operation 'Justice for Soldiers'

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: As part of the State Bureau of Investigation's (SBI) operation codenamed 'Justice for Soldiers,' authorities in Zhytomyr region uncovered a deputy commander of a military unit. Investigators say he fraudulently placed a friend on official military service, while that friend actually ran a business producing office furniture instead of performing army duties. Four other service members were also involved in the private enterprise, and none of them carried out their duties at the military unit.

The scheme, active since mid-2025, enabled five soldiers to receive nearly 1.2 million hryvnias without legal justification. These troops collected both a salary from the entrepreneur and military allowances from the state at the same time, a direct violation of the law. The former deputy commander is suspected of organizing the crime, while his friend is suspected of assisting in its commission.

Legal Consequences and Further Investigation

Four service members have already been served with suspicion notices under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 4 of Article 409 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. A pre-trial investigation is under way, with the SBI looking into whether other troops from the same unit were involved. The 'Justice for Soldiers' operation is being conducted together with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General.

This case is part of a wider push against corruption in Ukraine's military system. Earlier, the SBI ran an operation called 'Honest Conscription,' which exposed numerous schemes for dodging mobilization, illegally removing people from military registration, and taking bribes. These efforts are meant to reinforce lawfulness and fairness in military service, support public trust in the country's defense institutions, and curb corrupt practices that could undermine Ukraine's defense capabilities.

The recent case in Zhytomyr highlights a troubling trend in the military sector, where corruption undermines the integrity of the armed forces. Similar to the recent incident involving an SBU employee accepting bribes for conscript reservations, this scheme illustrates the pervasive issues of fraud and malpractice within military operations. As investigations continue, it is crucial to understand the broader implications of such actions on national security and public trust.