A court has imposed a custodial measure of restraint on a commander of a military unit in Odesa Oblast who extorted combat allowances from soldiers.
This was reported by the press service of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).
"In April 2023, SBI officers notified him of suspicion of extorting subordinate servicemen to give him part of the funds from the monthly allowances established for the period of martial law. In case of refusal, he threatened them with problems with their service and even physical violence," the bureau said.
So far, SBI officers have documented more than 30 facts of extortion and receipt of money from subordinates totalling more than 600,000 UAH.
The serviceman was served a notice of suspicion of extortion of property with the threat of violence, obtaining an unlawful benefit, intentional disobedience to an order, and using violence against subordinates. The sanction of the article provides for imprisonment for up to 12 years.
Procedural supervision is provided by the Specialised Defence Prosecutor's Office of the Southern Region.