Ukrainian Army Psychiatrist Arrested on $1 Million Corruption Charge

Ukraine has detained its army’s chief psychiatrist on alleged “illegal enrichment” charges relating to profits of more than $1 million (£813,000) accrued since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.

In a statement, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said the man was part of a commission that decided whether people were suitable for military service.

The SBU statement did not name him; However, a man named Oleh Druz was previously identified as the chief psychiatrist of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The SBU said he owned three apartments in or around kyiv, one in Odessa, two pieces of land and several luxury BMW cars, and investigators who searched his home also found $152,000 (£124,000) and €34,000 in cash.

The statement indicates that the man did not declare the property, which was registered in the name of his wife, daughter, children and other third parties.

He now faces ten years in prison for alleged charges of illegal enrichment and false declaration.

Druz was implicated in a similar case in 2017 in which he failed to declare two off-road vehicles and several properties, leading to his suspension.

Ukraine has long struggled with endemic corruption.

In May, a Ukrainian MP was charged with embezzling £220,000, while in 2023, more than 30 recruited officials accused of taking bribes and smuggling people out of the country were sacked in an anti-corruption purge.

Last year, the Ukrainian parliament voted to abolish military medical commissions after several officials were accused of accepting bribes in exchange for granting exemptions from military service.