In a high-profile corruption investigation related to the procurement of drones and electronic warfare systems, not only was Member of Parliament Oleksii Kuznetsov from the ruling Servant of the People party detained, but so was Serhii Haidai, head of the Mukachevo District Military Administration. According to ZN.UA, citing sources, Haidai was expected to be appointed governor of one of Ukraine’s regions—either Poltava or Ivano-Frankivsk—as early as next week.
Haidai previously served as head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration from October 2019 until March 2023 and became a prominent public figure during Russia’s full-scale invasion, regularly reporting from the frontlines.
Sources also indicate that the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) have detained businessman Vladyslav Marchenko, a former local leader of the Samopomich party in Zaporizhzhia.
Earlier on Friday, Ukrainian prosecutors announced the arrest of four suspects in a bribery scheme linked to the purchase of UAVs and electronic warfare equipment. Among those arrested were a sitting MP, a former regional governor, heads of military administrations, a National Guard officer, and executives from the drone supplier company.
According to MP Oleksii Honcharenko, the lawmaker involved is Oleksii Kuznetsov. Prosecutors have classified the case under articles relating to large-scale embezzlement and bribery (Part 5 of Article 191 and Part 4 of Article 368 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code).
The scandal has drawn particular attention not only because of the scope of the alleged misconduct but also due to the seniority of the individuals implicated—at a time when Ukraine is fighting for its survival and depends heavily on efficient military logistics and public trust. Prosecutors have not yet officially named the detainees, but the case is expected to proceed to court shortly.