Entrepreneur in Kyiv accused of stealing donations for frontline support PHOTO

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and the National Police have exposed a scam in Kyiv involving the misappropriation of nearly 1.5 million hryvnias (about $34,100) raised by volunteers for FPV drones and military equipment for the front line.

According to the investigation, the scheme was organised by a Kyiv-based entrepreneur involved in online sales of drone components and military supplies, Caliber.Az reports, citing SBU's Telegram channel.

“To implement the scheme, he created a website and an Instagram page through which donors could order drone systems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Also on these online platforms, the suspect promised potential clients fast and high-quality deliveries of military products.

However, as soon as payment was received, the offender supplied customers with defective goods or simply took the money and stopped communicating,” the SBU’s statement read.

To conceal the crimes, he used bank accounts belonging to acquaintances and withdrew cash through accomplices. The suspect faces up to 12 years in prison and property confiscation. Investigations are ongoing to identify all individuals involved in the misuse of volunteer funds, the SBU added.

By Jeyhun Aghazada