Ukraine exposes official involved in corruption scandal over fake disability certificates
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered the dissolution of Ukraine’s Medical-Social Expertise Commissions after a corruption investigation revealed the involvement of high-ranking officials in acquiring fake disability certificates.
The Security Service of Ukraine says that Ukrainian law enforcement has exposed the head of the Mykolaiv Regional Medical-Social Expertise Commission for corruption schemes to avoid conscription.
Ukrainians can be exempted from military service under certain health conditions, including confirmed disabilities. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that many high-ranking officials paid bribes to the Medical-Social Expertise Commission to obtain such documents.
On 22 October, the Ukrainian leader announced a National Security and Defense Council meeting regarding the situation with the commission and corruption schemes with disability certifications, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty informs. He reported “many cases of violations” and said many Ukrainian officials hold disability certificates obtained in illegal ways. He also outlined several decisions that the National Security and Defense Council made.
Following the meeting, Zelenskyy approved the commission’s dissolution for next year.
In connection with recent investigations into the recent incidents, the head of the Mykolaiv Regional Medical-Social Expertise Commission, whose name has not been disclosed by law enforcement, was found holding $450,000 in cash, a collection of jewelry hidden at various locations, and a Russian passport belonging to her son.
Most of the money and valuables were found in her son’s residence, who is a medical intern.
According to the Security Service, the man also obtained Russian citizenship at the former Russian consulate in Odesa before the full-scale war and owns three undeclared apartments.
The investigation revealed that between 2015 and 2023, the head of the commission declared only official income totaling around two million hryvnias.
The Security Service also added that in 2023, the official received disability documents for themselves and their son to collect additional state benefits and social payments.
Ukraine is currently deciding whether to charge the official formally. The investigation is ongoing.
Related:
- Ukraine’s demographic crisis strains military as young men dwindle
- Ukraine faces deepening demographic crisis as deaths outpace births 3 to 1
- Government-controlled part of Ukraine lost 2.4 million citizens due to migration during the war (2023)Ukraine’s population to “catastrophically” shrink to 35 million by 2030,
You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.
We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society.
A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support.
