Case description
The NABU and the SAPO suspect MP Oleksii Kuznietsov and other individuals of signing contracts for the supply of drones and electronic warfare equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine at inflated prices.
According to the investigation, the criminal group included:
- Serhii Haidai — former head of the Luhansk Oblast Military Administration and former head of Mukachevo Raion State Administration;
- Oleksii Kuznietsov — Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, 9th convocation;
- Andrii Yurchenko — Head of the Rubizhne Military Administration;
- Vasyl Myshanskyi — commander of a military unit of the National Guard of Ukraine;
- Yevheniia Sydelnykova — director of the supplier company TOV Acopters;
- Vladyslav Marchenko — the ultimate beneficiary of this enterprise.
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The investigation found that the group organized a scheme for systematic embezzlement of budget funds allocated by local self-government agencies for the needs of the Defense Forces, as well as for receipt and provision of undue benefits.
One of the episodes involved the intentional procurement of electronic warfare systems at an inflated price, where group participants received undue benefit in the amount of about 30% of the contract value. Another episode concerned the supply of FPV drones.
At first, the Lysychansk City Military Administration received a subvention of UAH 10 million for the needs of a National Guard unit. Later, the unit signed a contract with TOV Acopters at a cost inflated by about USD 80,000. The participants were meant to receive about 50% of the contract value: 20% for Kuznietsov, 20% for the commander of the military unit, and 10% for the intermediary.
To legalize this procurement at inflated prices, the participants of the criminal group forged documents on the alleged supply of components through an intermediary company in the UK. After the contract was completed, the funds were distributed in envelopes, namely, a large one with UAH 1 million and six smaller ones with USD 3,000 each. Thus, MP Kuznietsov probably personally received USD 43,000 in seven envelopes.
Another episode involved the procurement of military equipment for a total amount of UAH 968,000, where the contract was signed in April 2025. Difficulties emerged during the formalization of the contract, which Yurchenko handled by addressing the top leadership of the military unit with a request to influence the commander.
It was also established that Haidai and Kuznietsov initiated the allocation of a subvention of UAH 5 million for another military unit, acting through Yurchenko, with the aim of concluding a contract and receiving a kickback of 30–35% of its amount. This agreement was negotiated with a representative of a military equipment manufacturing company, Oleksandr Dorofieiev. In July, the contract was signed, and later UAH 900,000 was found in Kuznietsov’s vehicle, which the investigation believes to have been part of the undue benefit.
In addition, Haidai, Marchenko and Sydelnykov organized a scheme for evading military draft by fictitious employment of individuals at an enterprise with a critical status, allowing them to get a postponement.
The participants’ actions were qualified under Art. 191, part 5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Kuznietsov is also charged under Art. 368, part 4 of the Criminal Code.
