UAH 13 million in assets registered against relatives: former rescuer under suspicion

A former employee of the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Zaporizhia region was suspected of illegal enrichment in the amount of almost 13 million hryvnias. This became known from the report of the Zaporizhia Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

According to the investigation, on December 17, 2025, suspicion was declared against the former head of the special purpose emergency rescue squad. During 2021–2023, while in his position and performing the functions of a civil servant, he, according to the investigation, received assets whose origin is questionable.

Among these assets are cash that was seized during searches, as well as a number of luxury items. Among them are premium cars: a 2022 Toyota Land Cruiser, a 2021 Mercedes-Benz EQC 400, and a 2020 Volkswagen Touareg.

Law enforcement officers believe that in order to disguise the origin of the assets, ownership of them was registered in the name of the suspect’s wife and a trusted person, trying to avoid inspections and liability.

The pre-trial investigation in this case is being conducted by investigators of the territorial department of the State Bureau of Investigation in Melitopol.

The crime was classified under Article 368-5 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal enrichment), which provides for imprisonment with confiscation of property.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

In addition, 1,730 sets of protective equipment worth over UAH 14 million were purchased in Khmelnytskyi region for the units of the State Emergency Service. However, it turned out that the rescuers received suits that did not meet technical standards and requirements.