Ihor Panchenko, the director of the “Unbreakable Poltavshchyna” charity foundation, has been arrested on charges of profiting from humanitarian aid vehicles and illegal weapons possession. Authorities allege that he sold over 230 vehicles intended as humanitarian aid for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, generating more than 35 million UAH (approximately $849,307).
The arrest follows Ukraine’s intensified anti-corruption efforts, especially since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, as the country seeks to align more closely with European Union standards and secure ongoing support from Western nations. This commitment has led to the establishment of various institutions aimed at combating corruption, including the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), and the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC).
According to local news source Poltavshchyna, Panchenko is accused of importing vehicles designated for humanitarian aid and then selling them to civilians and military personnel for personal gain. Investigators claim that he and his associates actively sought buyers, prepared the vehicles for sale, and managed the necessary documentation. To cover their tracks, they allegedly submitted forged reports to the relevant ministry, falsely indicating that the vehicles had been transferred to servicemen.
Panchenko was detained while attempting to sell one of these vehicles and has received a notice of suspicion. If convicted, he faces up to seven years in prison, a potential ban on holding specific positions or engaging in particular activities for up to three years, and possible property confiscation.
The case has broader implications, as reports suggest that Panchenko is also involved in a separate criminal proceeding concerning illegal weapons possession. In May, authorities seized a Kalashnikov assault rifle, ammunition, and various hand grenades from him.
This arrest comes amid a series of anti-corruption actions in Ukraine. Earlier this month, NABU and SAP officials apprehended a deputy prosecutor from the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Prosecutor’s Office for allegedly accepting a $40,000 bribe to manipulate criminal proceedings. Additionally, in August, NABU arrested Deputy Minister of Energy Oleksandr Kheil and three accomplices for reportedly demanding a $500,000 bribe to facilitate the transfer of critical mining equipment from war-affected areas in Donetsk to western Ukraine.