Military Unit Commander in Cherkasy Region Accused of Using Soldiers for Personal Home Renovations.

Commander Exposed for Abusing Power

According to TSN.ua: Law enforcement authorities have uncovered a case in the Cherkasy region where a military unit commander allegedly exploited subordinates to perform construction work for his personal benefit. According to reports, the commander involved at least seven service members in building projects, who continued to receive military pay despite being officially listed as on duty.

Starting in September 2024, the commander systematically assigned his troops to renovation and construction tasks on private properties. These included:

• apartments belonging to his daughter and ex-wife in Cherkasy;
• his sister's house in the region;
• a residence in the Kyiv region used by the official himself.

The commander now faces charges of abuse of authority and organizing the evasion of military service. If convicted, he could receive up to 10 years in prison. Separately, in Rivne, another commander was detained for forcing subordinates to build his private home in the Lviv region. That construction project lasted over 18 months, during which more than 1.3 million hryvnias were illegally paid out from the state budget.

Broader Concerns in the Military

These incidents highlight serious violations within the military command system, where service members are misused for personal gain—raising alarms about accountability during active service. It is notable that Ukrainian law enforcement is intensifying efforts to combat corruption in the armed forces, as such abuses can erode public trust in military leadership and readiness.

Assigning soldiers to tasks unrelated to their duties undermines not only national defense capabilities but also the morale of the army as a whole.