As explained by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), participants in the corruption scheme received improper benefits of up to 30% of the contract value.
A bail of eight million hryvnias was posted for the former deputy head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Council, Vladyslav Marchenko, suspected of involvement in a corruption scheme related to the procurement of drones and electronic warfare (EW) equipment. This information came from the High Anti-Corruption Court’s materials in response to a request.
“We are providing information held by the HACC as the information custodian, namely informing that funds in the amount of 8,000,000 (eight million) hryvnias have been deposited into the HACC’s deposit account, deposited as bail for the person named in the request”
Chronology of the Case and Marchenko’s Role
According to the investigation, Vladyslav Marchenko is among six suspects in a criminal group that embezzled budget funds allocated for the needs of the Armed Forces, through the procurement of drone systems and EW equipment. The case materials describe systemic abuses in 2024–2025, particularly regarding FPV drones and radio-electronic systems.
On August 22, the HACC reduced the bail amount from 15 million hryvnias to 8 million hryvnias. Earlier, on August 4, Marchenko was taken into custody; at that time the bail could amount to as much as 15 million hryvnias, since he owns a drone manufacturing enterprise.
On August 2, NABU and SAP uncovered a scheme of inflated prices in state contracts for the procurement of unmanned aircraft and EW devices. According to investigators, in 2024–2025 the group embezzled funds from local budgets intended for the needs of the Armed Forces. Among the episodes were the procurement of EW systems and FPV drones.
“For signing a contract with knowingly inflated prices, the participants of the group received up to 30% of the contract value as an illicit benefit. In a similar scheme, FPV drones were purchased for almost 10 million hryvnias. The company supplied products priced at about 80,000 US dollars above their value, after which officials transferred part of the funds as kickbacks to participants in the criminal group”
The investigation continues to collect evidence and work on the case of all defendants. Further procedural steps and court decisions regarding preventive measures and possible new stages of the investigation are expected.
See also:
- Former head of Khmelnytskyi MSEC Tetiana Krupa posted a full bail of 20 million UAH after nearly 11 months in custody on corruption charges.
- Former head of Khmelnytskyi regional medical-social expertise center, Tetiana Krupa, released on 20 million UAH bail amid illegal enrichment investigation. Case involves large cash, luxury assets, and ongoing court proceedings.
- The High Anti-Corruption Court has arrested the director of LLC “AKOPTERS” and other suspects in the case of embezzlement during the procurement of drones and electronic warfare equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
