The State Bureau of Investigation reported suspicions against the former head of the State Emergency Service in Vinnytsia region, who forced subordinates to work on his private construction sites
Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation reported about the suspicion of the former head of the Main Department of the State Emergency Service in the Vinnytsia region. According to the investigation, the official forced subordinates to work for free on his private constructions and repairs.
The investigation established that from June 2024 to March 2025, he engaged five employees of the rescue service in construction and repair work at facilities in Vinnytsia and Kharkiv regions. Employees performed tasks both during working hours and outside of working hours, instead of performing official duties, they built an official’s home and engaged in repairs.
At least four sites where a former boss used subordinates as unpaid labor have been documented. The official headed the department for more than 15 years, and retired in the spring of 2025. He currently holds the position of head of one of Vinnytsia’s utility companies.
During searches of the place of residence and former place of work, ownership documents, medical certificates of disability, 10 thousand euros, a mobile phone, a video surveillance server and digital media were seized.
The former manager was notified of the suspicion under Part 2 of Art. 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — recruitment of people for the purpose of exploitation, committed with the use of an official position in relation to several persons. The sanction of the article provides up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The court chose a preventive measure for the suspect – detention for a period of 60 days with the possibility of bail in the amount of 2.49 million hryvnias. Currently, investigators are identifying all persons who may have been involved in illegal activities. Procedural management is carried out by the Prosecutor General’s Office.
