Court Rejects DBR Request to Detain Drone Battalion Commander; Sets $10 Million Bail in Illegal Enrichment Case

Court Hearing for Vitaliy Hersak

According to Главком: On May 5, 2026, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv reviewed a motion for a preventive measure against Vitaliy Hersak, commander of the 423rd Separate Battalion of Unmanned Systems, who is accused of illegally enriching himself by 22 million hryvnias during 2020-2021. The court denied the State Bureau of Investigation's (DBR) request for pretrial detention and instead set bail at 10 million hryvnias, which must be paid within five days.

During the hearing, DBR investigators alleged that Hersak's illegal enrichment occurred while he served as head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) office in Mykolaiv Oblast in 2020-2021. According to the investigation, the value of assets registered in the names of his close relatives exceeds his official income by 22 million hryvnias.

Two senior military officials submitted requests to take Hersak under personal custody:

• Major General M. Sydorenko, Commander of the Southern Operational Command
• Colonel Zaiets, Commander of the 20th Army Corps

The court rejected the DBR and prosecution's motions for Hersak's detention.

Background on Hersak's Case

At the time of the suspicion notice, Hersak was serving as commander of the 423rd Separate Battalion of Unmanned Systems, which carries out combat missions on the Zaporizhzhia front. He voluntarily mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine in early 2022. In late 2025, Hersak was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, Third Class.

On May 1, 2026, DBR officers formally charged Hersak with illegal enrichment. In response, Hersak commented:

'For someone with 20 years of operational experience like me, this whole case looks baseless. From a professional standpoint, it relies on dubious materials from the Bakanov-Naumov era that previously failed to incriminate me.'

Battalion commander Hersak also expressed reluctance to engage in legal battles: 'I have no desire to get drawn into these games. Let my lawyers handle it-my job is to defend Ukraine.' The veteran, a war-disabled defender with the call sign 'Jew,' questioned the timing of the investigation: 'Why have events from six years ago only now caught the investigators' interest? Is this case so critical that it requires decapitating one of the key battalions on the strategically vital Zaporizhzhia front?'

This case continues to generate public controversy, highlighting the challenge of balancing justice and military stability during wartime. The outcome could have significant implications for Ukraine's military command structure and public trust in law enforcement, especially while the country faces external threats. The situation surrounding Hersak not only raises doubts about the investigation's legitimacy but also points to potential risks for defense capabilities and morale among Ukraine's military leadership.

As the legal proceedings against Vitaliy Hersak unfold, the military's integrity remains under scrutiny, particularly following the recent arrest of another high-ranking officer. The case of Colonel Bobrovsky, who was apprehended in a bribery sting, raises further questions about corruption within the armed forces. For a deeper understanding of the challenges facing military leadership, you can read more about the charges against Colonel Bobrovsky.