This is reported by Kyiv24
The Security Service of Ukraine has reported the detention of Ruslan Svitlyi, the former director of the Department of Social and Veteran Policy of the Kyiv City State Administration. He is suspected of being involved in a large-scale embezzlement of budget funds intended for palliative care for seriously ill citizens of the capital.
Embezzlement Scheme and Suspects
The investigation has established that officials of the Kyiv City State Administration, acting under the direction of the former department head, organized a scheme to misappropriate nearly 75 million UAH. They entered into contracts with controlled companies that were supposed to provide free medications, food products, and services to seriously ill patients. However, a significant portion of the allocated budget funds was diverted from their intended use to purchase premium-class vehicles and elite real estate. The corresponding assets were allegedly registered for the needs of patients, while false information was included in the reporting documentation.
“SBU employees uncovered the first suspects in the spring of this year – two deputies of the head of the aforementioned department of the Kyiv City State Administration, the head of the city psychiatric hospital, and their accomplice. According to the case materials, the perpetrators misappropriated funds allocated for the financing of Kyiv residents suffering from incurable diseases. Currently, evidence has been collected against the former head of the relevant department of the Kyiv City State Administration, who held the position from 2022 to 2025 and participated in organizing the ‘scheme,'” the statement reads
Legal Qualification and Further Actions
In addition to the former official, SBU employees detained three representatives of the controlled companies who were involved in legitimizing the embezzled funds under the guise of free services for patients, and the cash received was handed over to the organizers of the fraudulent scheme. Under part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code (embezzlement, misappropriation of property, or acquisition of it through abuse of office, committed in especially large amounts by an organized group under martial law), suspicion has been announced against the former head of the department and three entrepreneurs. The actions of the ‘shadow’ curator of the department, who is currently abroad, have also been qualified under the same article.
Investigative authorities are determining the preventive measure for the detainees. The sanction of the article provides for up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.