Ukraine sends case over 6.7 million hryvnias in combat payments to court

Four former military officials in Ukraine face allegations of inadequate checks on documents supporting combat payments. Prosecutors say unjustified payments exceeded 6.7 million hryvnias.

RIA Novosti reported the referral on October 9, citing Ukraine's prosecutor general's office. The Russian-language outlet Glavnoe in Ukraine published a matching account, describing the accusations as official negligence.

According to investigators, a territorial-defence unit was deployed for combat operations in December 2022. It left the line of contact five days later, handing its positions to another military unit. Documents supporting additional combat payments nevertheless continued to be submitted for another two months.

The defendants include a former food-service chief who effectively served as logistics chief, a former chief of staff and first deputy unit commander, a former rifle-company deputy commander acting as commander, and a former medical-service chief.

Prosecutors say inadequate verification of reports led to unjustified payments. RIA Novosti reported that the defendants could face up to eight years in prison. Sending indictments to court is not a conviction, and the account of events remains the prosecution's allegation.