Deminers were sent to the fields, who performed demonstration actions: digging up the soil, placing objects similar to ammunition, and “discovering” them during the examination.
A scheme for misappropriating budget funds allocated for humanitarian demining has been exposed in the Kherson region. The director of a private enterprise – the operator of mine action activities and the head of a group of sappers were notified of the suspicion. This was reported to Korrespondent.net by the State Bureau of Investigation and the National Police. The PromPolitInform portal informs.
It is noted that in May 2025, the enterprise won tenders and concluded two contracts for the demining of agricultural land in the Kherson region with a total area of about 122 hectares. The cost of the work exceeded 6 million UAH. However, in fact, these areas were already cleared of explosives in 2023-2024, and the land was cultivated by farmers. Despite this, the defendants decided only to simulate the performance of the work in order to receive funds.
To create the appearance of demining, sappers were sent to the fields, who performed demonstration actions: they dug up the soil, placed objects similar to ammunition, and “discovered” them during the inspection. After that, they drew up acts of work performed with false data, which were signed, in particular, by land users. Thus, the customer received documents about the alleged clearing of territories, and the participants in the scheme – over 6 million UAH from the state budget.
The director of the enterprise and the head of the sapper group were notified of suspicion of taking possession of property on a particularly large scale, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons under martial law; official forgery.
The sanctions of the articles provide for up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
Earlier in this proceeding, two businessmen agreed to cooperate with the investigation, provided incriminating testimony and confirmed that demining work was not actually carried out. Currently, investigators are identifying other persons involved, checking financial transactions and possible similar episodes.
We will remind you that the PPavoohorontsi liquidated a large-scale scheme of embezzlement in the system of the State Agency for Reserve Management of Ukraine.
