Embezzlement of over UAH 37 million in donations for Ukraine: organized group exposed

NABU and SAPO have exposed an organized criminal group led by a former State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA). The group’s members misappropriated funds from foreign citizens and donors intended to support Ukraine at the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion and laundered them through conversion centers.

According to the investigation, the MFA State Secretary persuaded international donors and staff of Ukraine’s diplomatic missions abroad to transfer financial assistance to the bank account of a controlled NGO. According to the findings of a forensic examination, the funds received by this NGO legally had the status of earmarked budget funds of the MFA special fund.

Subsequently, the funds were transferred to the bank accounts of controlled sole proprietors and legal entities, which then routed them through conversion centers to be withdrawn in cash. The scheme’s participants used the laundered money for their personal enrichment.

To create the appearance of legitimate operations for the NGO, the participants produced forged letters and signed grant agreements containing false information.

Currently, the investigation has established the laundering of more than UAH 37 million (approximately USD 1.28 million at the time the offense was committed).

The suspects include:

• the former State Secretary of the MFA (2020–2024) — the organizer of the scheme;
• the former Head of the Office of the MFA State Secretary, currently serving as a diplomatic official;
• an adviser to the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is the head of the controlled NGO;
• the accountant of the NGO.

The actions of the suspects fall under Part 4 of Art. 190, Part 5 of Art. 191, and Part 3 of Art. 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Materials from the State Audit Service of Ukraine were used in exposing the crime.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. All circumstances of the crime are being established.