In Sumy Region, a serviceman was sentenced for stealing night vision equipment that caused over 4 million hryvnias in damages to the state
The Lebedyn District Court, as part of a case initiated by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), decided to punish the serviceman by sentencing him to ten years in prison with confiscation of property. This occurred as a result of a serious criminal scheme in which the officer, responsible for the supply of the unit, used his position to misappropriate military property. According to official information published by the SBI press service, the defendant had direct access to storerooms containing valuable equipment intended for an assault company — notably, night vision devices and high-quality binoculars. In late 2024, he received this equipment with the intention of transferring it to military units, but after obtaining it, instead of handing it over to the unit, he decided to illegally sell the property, leading to substantial financial losses for the state. Prosecutors and investigators uncovered that the theft was a carefully planned scheme. Thanks to the efforts of operatives and investigators of the SBI, the stolen equipment valued at over 4 million hryvnias was quickly identified and recovered. The court took this amount into account when delivering the verdict, and a civil claim filed by the state for compensation of damages was satisfied. The convicted individual was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 4 of Article 410 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — misappropriation of military property under special legal regimes, i.e., during a state of martial law. The court’s sentence serves as a reminder that illegal appropriation of military equipment and property is a crime punishable by severe penalties and has significant consequences both for the offender and for the country's defense capability. This case also highlights the importance of personal responsibility among servicemen for the preservation and accounting of military property and equipment. Failures in control and unlawful actions by persons in high trust positions risk bringing them to justice and imposing strict penalties, as any theft at military warehouses is not only a personal crime but also a threat to national security. Clearly, such incidents underscore the need to enhance oversight and thoroughly review processes related to accounting and safeguarding military property during wartime. Every saved unit of equipment contributes to the country’s defense and safety of its citizens. Stolen equipment owned by the state and removed from circulation have destructive consequences for national defense, and anyone involved in this area must remember the high level of responsibility and the consequences of unlawful actions.