The Ukrainian security agencies, specifically the Security Service and National Police, have exposed a significant fraud scheme related to donations for the Armed Forces, operating in southern and eastern parts of the country.
As part of simultaneous operations in Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Kamianske, six individuals were arrested for their involvement in a criminal group that illicitly appropriated charitable contributions.
The investigation revealed that the perpetrators, posing as volunteers, collected funds supposedly to support Ukrainian soldiers at the front.
However, authorities discovered that only 10% of the total donations were allocated to actual military needs while the remaining 90% was divided among the participants in the scheme.
The operations were conducted under the guise of a charitable foundation established by a local recidivist in Dnipro, who is under investigation for drug trafficking.
He involved nine accomplices, who were disguised in military uniforms for secrecy, although only two had any military background.
The criminals spread across various cities to collect donations, setting up cash boxes on central streets.
In one instance, law enforcement documented the embezzlement of 556 thousand hryvnias in charitable aid.
During searches at the foundation's office and the suspects' residences, computers, smartphones, and notes containing evidence of criminal activity were seized. Additionally, money collected as donations for the Armed Forces was found with the culprits.
Currently, the head of the foundation and five of his accomplices have been charged under part 3 of Article 201-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, regarding the illegal use of humanitarian aid for profit during wartime.
Investigations are ongoing to hold all guilty parties accountable. The offenders face up to 7 years in prison along with asset confiscation.
It is important to note that this criminal case concerns only one charitable foundation and has no connection to other volunteer organizations in Ukraine. The Security Service highly values the volunteer movement in our country and urges citizens to assist the Security and Defense Forces while being cautious to avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes.
The comprehensive measures were carried out by SBU employees in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast in cooperation with the National Police under the procedural guidance of the Dnipro Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the sphere of defense.