A former specialist in the mobilization department of the Odesa Regional TCC (Territorial Center of Recruitment) in Chornomorsk, Vladyslav Zelenko, has been found guilty of accepting an improper advantage in exchange for influencing state decision-making. Judge Yuriy Tyumin of the Chornomorsk City Court ordered the offender to pay a fine of 93.5 thousand UAH. The official accepted bribes to help individuals evade mobilization and to remove citizens from draft evasion databases.
The investigation revealed that Zelenko had been engaging in corrupt activities for an extended period, particularly during his tenure at the Kyivskyi District TCC in Odesa. The offender established a structured scheme to remove draft-eligible citizens from the TCC wanted databases.
According to court documents, the illicit services were priced as follows:
10,000 UAH – for removal from the TCC wanted database;
3,000 UAH – for issuing a referral to the Military Medical Commission (VLC) and subsequent examination at the regional hospital;
12,000 UAH – upon receiving the final TCC conclusion declaring the individual unfit for military service.
In addition to the fine, the convict is required to compensate the state 7 thousand UAH for forensic examination costs. The court also ordered the confiscation of material evidence seized during the investigation, including an iPhone 16 and cash assets equivalent to 13 thousand UAH in various currencies.
Throughout the pre-trial investigation of this corruption offense, the suspect was not held in custody. In September 2025, bail was posted on his behalf in the amount of 212 thousand UAH, allowing him to remain free until the verdict was delivered.
However, the official’s financial standing, as reflected in his asset declaration, raises significant questions for anti-corruption watchdogs. According to his 2025 tax return, the official does not own any real estate, vehicles, or financial savings. His sole declared income was an annual salary from the Odesa Regional TCC of 99.7 thousand UAH. Consequently, the bail amount was more than double his officially declared annual income.
Background Note: The convict’s mother, Svitlana Kachur, worked at the Prymorskyi District TCC in Odesa until 2024 and currently continues her military service in one of the city’s district recruitment centers. Her declaration lists two apartments in Odesa (53.9 and 68.5 sq.m.) and a plot of land. Her primary listed income is a state lump-sum payment of over 2 million UAH received following the death of her husband in the war.
The legal qualification of the draft office employee’s actions has drawn particular attention from legal experts. The prosecution and investigators charged him under Part 2 of Art. 369-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (acceptance of an improper advantage for exerting influence on decision-making by a person authorized to perform state functions).
In similar high-profile cases involving corruption within the TCC and VLC, law enforcement often applies the stricter Art. 368 of the Criminal Code (acceptance of an improper advantage by an official). This article carries harsher sanctions, including prison sentences and full asset confiscation. However, in this instance, the pre-trial investigation authorities opted for a more lenient charge, and the court ruled strictly within the scope of the indictment, allowing the former official to avoid prison time by paying a fine.