The Times
Ukrainian army psychiatrist held on $1m corruption charge
Oleh Druz may be suspected of taking bribes from draft dodgers to declare them unfit for service
By Marc Bennetts
January 22, 2025

— Excerpt

The Ukrainian army’s top psychiatrist has been arrested on suspicion of corruption as Kyiv tries to crack down on officials taking bribes to issue false exemptions from military service.

Oleh Druz was responsible for determining whether people were mentally fit to serve in the armed forces. He was detained during a raid by the SBU security service at one of his properties. He is accused of receiving $1 million in illicit funds since the start of Russia’s all-out invasion almost three years ago.

The SBU said Druz owned three apartments in or near Kyiv, one in Odesa, two plots of land and several BMW luxury cars. Investigators said they had discovered $152,000 and €34,000 in cash during a raid on one of his homes. He is alleged to have covered up his ownership of the properties by registering them in the names of family members or friends. Photographs from the raid that were published by the SBU showed a huge pile of banknotes.

While the SBU did not explicitly accuse Druz of accepting bribes, Ukrainian media said he was suspected of taking money to help men avoid being drafted. He faces up to ten years in prison if convicted…