NABU, SAPO identify 6 suspects in corruption scheme for procuring UAVs and EW, including Haidai
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) reported on suspicion of members of an organized criminal group exposed the day before, involved in a corruption scheme in the procurement of UAVs and electronic warfare equipment.
As the NABU press service reported on Monday, among the suspects: the former head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration - Part 5 of Article 191, Part 3 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, People's Deputy of Ukraine - Part 5 of Article 191, Part 3 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the head of the city military administration - Part 3 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the commander of a military unit of the National Guard of Ukraine - Part 3 of Article 28, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, actual beneficial owner of the enterprise – UAV manufacturer – Part 5, Article 191, Part 2, Article 28, Part 1, Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the director of the UAV manufacturer – Part 5, Article 191, Part 2, Article 28, Part 1, Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The beneficiary and director of the UAV manufacturer are also additionally charged with obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
"According to the investigation, they registered people for work for a monetary reward and provided them with reservations, effectively blocking the possibility of their mobilization into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," the report says.
With the approval of the Prosecutor General, a petition was sent to the court to elect a preventive measure in the form of detention for the suspected people's deputy with the alternative of paying bail in the amount of UAH 30 million. The court also filed motions to impose preventive measures on other defendants in the case.
According to the investigation, during 2024–2025, the participants in the organized group established a scheme for the systematic appropriation of budget funds allocated by local governments for the needs of the defense forces, as well as the receipt and provision of illegal benefits in particularly large amounts.
As established by NABU and SAPO, one of the schemes was implemented during the conclusion of a state contract for the supply of electronic warfare systems. For concluding a contract for the purchase of products at a knowingly inflated price, the participants in the organized group received an illegal benefit in the amount of 30% of the contract amount.
A scheme for the appropriation of funds during the purchase of FPV drones was also exposed. The military unit concluded a state contract for the amount of almost UAH 10 million with an enterprise that supplied products at a cost that was overstated by about $80,000. After the contract was executed, the company's officials handed over their "kickback" to the members of the criminal group.
The names of the defendants were not disclosed. According to media reports, this is a member of parliament from the Servant of the People party, Oleksiy Kuznetsov. This was actually acknowledged by the head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, who announced that Kuznetsov's membership in the faction would be suspended for the duration of the investigation.
According to media reports, the scheme with Kuznetsov's participation involved the ex-head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai and now head of the Mukachevo regional state administration).
The commander of the National Guard, Oleksandr Pivnenko, has already removed the defendants from their positions, and an official investigation has been launched.