Ukraine’s top Prosecutor Kostin resigns over draft-dodging scandal involving government officials

Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin has announced his resignation, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Kostin is stepping down following a draft-dodging scandal involving Ukrainian officials, including employees of the Prosecutor General’s Office, who reportedly obtained disability certificates through bribes to avoid serving in the Ukrainian Army. According to Ukrainian law, individuals with disabilities are exempt from military service and receive benefits from government programs.

Currently, checks and criminal investigations are underway at all levels of government concerning fake disability documents among officials. Similar instances have been uncovered among Ukrainian prosecutors as well.

Prosecutor General Kostin has aligned with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s stance on the necessity of personal responsibility for the lack of investigation into these criminal incidents.

“I am grateful to the President of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Parliament for their trust. However, in this situation, I believe it is appropriate to announce my resignation as Prosecutor General,” Kostin said.

On 4 October, the State Bureau of Investigation reported that Tetiana Krupa, head of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Medical-Social Expertise Center, and her son, who held a managerial position in the Pension Fund in Khmelnytskyi, were caught in illegal enrichment. During searches, nearly $6 million in cash was found, including $100,000 in Krupa’s office alone.

Later, it was reported that about 50 prosecutors from Khmelnytskyi Oblast had registered as disabled. Media outlets linked Krupa to these cases.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initiated a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council to address the work of the Medical-Social Expertise Commissions.

Commenting on the situation, he condemned the “audacity of individuals, including prosecutors, who used their connections with the MSEC to falsely claim disabilities.” The president also stated that he expects swift actions from law enforcement, including the Prosecutor General’s Office.

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