Businessman Arrested in Khmelnytskyi for Allegedly Selling Military Transfers to Rear Units

Arrest of a Businessman in Khmelnytskyi

According to Главком: On May 12, 2026, authorities in Khmelnytskyi detained businessman Viktor Kasianchuk on suspicion of extorting money in exchange for transferring soldiers to rear-echelon units. The arrest occurred as he was accepting $4,000. According to law enforcement, Kasianchuk offered military personnel assistance with reassignment to support roles, specifically within the Military Law Enforcement Service (VSP), claiming he had personal connections with a senior VSP official in the Khmelnytskyi region.

The soldier seeking the transfer, who had a hand injury and wanted to move closer to home, met the businessman while staying at a hotel complex owned by Kasianchuk. Initially demanding $5,000 for his help, the businessman was caught after receiving $4,000. He now faces charges of obtaining an unlawful benefit for influencing a decision by a person authorized to perform state functions, combined with extortion.

Court Measures and Ongoing Investigation

A court has ordered pretrial detention with the option of posting bail. If convicted, Kasianchuk faces up to eight years in prison. Investigators are also looking into whether officials from the Military Law Enforcement Service in the Khmelnytskyi region were involved in the scheme.

As part of the broader probe, the State Bureau of Investigation has notified Vadym Sidletskyi, head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Office of the State Migration Service, of suspicion. Sidletskyi allegedly failed to declare assets worth over 13 million hryvnias, registered in his wife's name. These assets include a café and office spaces in the village of Chornyi Ostriv, Khmelnytskyi district, covering more than 900 square meters.

The businessman's arrest is part of a larger investigation into corruption within military structures. Law enforcement stresses the need to purge the system of illicit activities that undermine public trust in state institutions. The case also highlights potential involvement by high-ranking officials, pointing to systemic issues in the management of military services in the region.