Law enforcement uncovered a group that was reselling military drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 16 individuals detained

Uncovering the group that misappropriated drones

According to Рубрика — Суспільство: Law enforcement officials uncovered a group engaged in misappropriating drones from military units, altering their identification data, and reselling them to the Armed Forces of Ukraine as new equipment. As part of the investigation, 16 individuals were detained, over 100 searches were conducted, and more than 600 drones were seized, along with a significant amount of other property. The main base of the group was located in Dnipropetrovsk region.

Operations scheme of the group

The scheme may have been functioning at least since December 2025. Group members searched for military personnel willing to illegally sell drones that were on the balance of military units. For communication, they used personal contacts, online advertisements, and a specially created Telegram channel. Stolen or illegally acquired drones were purchased at prices significantly lower than the market value. The drones could be documented as lost during combat operations to conceal the shortage of equipment.

Investigating the group's activities, law enforcement established that the drones were sent to specially equipped workshops, where they were repaired, cleaned, repackaged, and identification marks were altered. Original serial numbers were removed from the drone bodies, QR codes and labels were replaced. Used equipment was presented as new, and group members entered contracts with military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine through controlled enterprises. The devices could be resold to the state using budget funds.

The investigation uncovered six military units to which drones with altered identification data could be supplied, with approximately 200 such devices already on the balance of military units. The seized property includes:

• over 13 million UAH;
• about 400 thousand USD;
• 700 grams of gold;
• 9 kg of silver;
• jewelry;
• 15 cars;
• weapons;
• ammunition;
• computer equipment.

The origin of the rest of the equipment is still being determined.

The detained individuals are charged with misappropriation of military property under conditions of martial law and legalization of property obtained through criminal means. For some suspects, the court has chosen a preventive measure in the form of detention, while for others, the issue of preventive measures is still being resolved.

The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine noted: 'Drones were sent to specially equipped workshops, where they were repaired, cleaned, repackaged, and identification marks were altered.'

This case highlights serious risks associated with the security and control of military property in Ukraine during martial law. The discovery of a group that systematically misappropriated military equipment calls into question the effectiveness of current resource management mechanisms in the Armed Forces. Law enforcement agencies continue the investigation, which may lead to further arrests and uncovering new details of this criminal scheme.