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, enabling both the officer and the soldiers to benefit financially while undermining military responsibilities. The soldiers are now being prosecuted separately for fraudulently avoiding service.

The officer, who served as deputy commander of an unidentified regiment- or battalion-level unit, allegedly assigned the soldiers to perform menial labor for his family’s food business instead of their official duties. Despite being listed on the Defense Ministry’s payroll and receiving combat pay, the soldiers were effectively exploited as unpaid workers. The state incurred damages estimated at approximately $100,000.

The Ukrainian military has long struggled with corruption, a systemic issue that exacerbates challenges in maintaining effective mobilization efforts. Many citizens attempt to evade conscription through bribery or by fleeing, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with a system seen as disproportionately burdening the poor. A recent survey by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology revealed that over 70% of respondents believed corruption had worsened in the past three years, while only 5% noted any improvement.