Ukraine’s top prosecutor resigns after subordinates are accused of abuse

This is evident from a statement on the PGO’s Telegram channel, Ukrinform reports.

“I consider the position of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky absolutely correct when it comes to the fact that not only should all illegal decisions regarding the granting of disabilities, corresponding pensions and other payments be annulled, but that not only should there be clear legislative and organizational changes must be implemented, but there must also be personal responsibility. This also includes political responsibility. I am grateful to the President of Ukraine and the Verkhovna Rada for their trust. But in this situation, I consider it right to resign as Attorney General,” the statement said.

Kostin recalled that President Zelenskiy had held a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on the “clearly immoral situation of false disabilities of officials in state bodies.” Currently, audits are underway at all levels of government, criminal cases are being investigated, and in particular, “several shameful acts of abuse” have been registered in the prosecutors’ system, the official added.

As reported, the President held a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council on the situation of Committees of Medical and Social Experts (MSEK) and abuse by officials of various government agencies regarding disability status.

The head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Maliuk, announced after the NSDC meeting that the agency, in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, had exposed large-scale corruption schemes within the mentioned committees. For example, in 2024, 64 commission officials were charged with crimes and another nine were convicted, according to SBU records.

On October 5, the State Investigative Bureau arrested the head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Center for Medical and Social Expertise and reported suspicion of illegal enrichment. Before that, law enforcement officers carried out a series of raids on the offices and homes of the suspected official and her family on October 3 and 4.

About $100,000 in cash was found in her office, as well as a number of forged medical documents, lists of draft dodgers with names and fictitious diagnoses. At the residence of the official and her family, SBR agents found almost $5.25 million, 300,000 euros and more than UAH 5 million in cash, as well as jewelry.

On October 15, Censor.net released the news that almost all prosecutors in the Khmelnytskyi region, 49, including the head of the regional office, were registered as persons with disabilities (II degree), confirmed by the said medical center , Tetiana Krupa. It turned out that they received government pensions, according to the decisions signed by Krupa’s son, Oleksandr, the head of the local branch of the Pension Fund.

Afterwards, Attorney General Andriy Kostin ordered an official investigation into the case.

On October 17, Oleksiy Oliynyk, head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Prosecutor’s Office, resigned from his position.

Photo: Andriy Kostin / Facebook