A Ukrainian military officer has been charged with abuse of power after allegedly diverting two subordinates from combat duty to work at his wife’s kebab kiosk, according to the State Bureau of Investigations (DBR). The scheme, which operated for nearly two years, reportedly allowed both the officer and soldiers to benefit financially while undermining their military responsibilities.
The DBR stated that the officer, serving as a deputy commander in an unidentified unit, assigned the soldiers to perform menial labor at his family’s food stand instead of fulfilling combat roles. Despite being listed on the Defense Ministry’s payroll and receiving combat pay, the soldiers were effectively used as unpaid laborers for the officer’s business. The state suffered an estimated $100,000 in losses due to the scheme.
The case highlights systemic corruption within the Ukrainian military, which has long plagued the country’s mobilization efforts. Many citizens reportedly seek to evade conscription through bribery or by hiding, exacerbated by a perception of unfairness in the drafting system. A recent survey by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology found that over 70% of respondents believed corruption had worsened in the past three years, with only 5% noting any improvement.
