On October 28, 2026, a large-scale scheme for the illegal sale of military drones was uncovered in Ukraine, resulting in the arrest of 16 individuals, including military personnel. Investigators found that members of the criminal group unjustifiably listed unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as lost or destroyed, subsequently repairing and selling them as new.
Fraud Methods
According to the investigation, the participants employed various methods to deceive military officials. Specifically, they:
- Changed serial numbers and QR codes on the drones;
- Registered the UAVs as new products;
- Repaired discarded drones to give them the appearance of being new.
This scheme allowed the participants to illegally profit over 16 million UAH by selling unusable drones to the military.
Raids and Seizures
Law enforcement conducted nearly 100 searches across eight regions of Ukraine, resulting in the seizure of:
- Over 600 drones and components;
- Approximately 13 million UAH, $400,000, and €10,000;
- Luxury cars, charging stations, gold and silver bars.
The arrested individuals have been charged with crimes, facing up to 15 years in prison.