Detectives from Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigations arrested Volodymyr Pauk, head of the military-medical commission in Berehove, Zakarpattia, on April 20, 2026, after catching him accepting a bribe from a serviceman seeking a “limited fit” status to avoid mobilization.
According to multiple sources including Ukrainian Pravda, TSN, and Mukachevo.net, investigators found nearly half a million dollars in cash during searches of Pauk’s residence and office, comprising U.S. Dollars, euros, Hungarian forints, and British pounds sterling. The exact total remains under count as of Monday afternoon, but journalist Vitaliy Hlahola, who first reported the raid via Telegram, said investigators had already seized approximately $500,000.
The alleged scheme involved charging servicemen $6,000 each to obtain fraudulent medical conclusions declaring them unfit for full military duty, thereby allowing them to evade conscription during wartime. Pauk, a dermatovenereologist by profession, is accused of orchestrating this network through the Berehove military-medical commission, which issues official fitness determinations for service eligibility.
Investigators say the operation was conducted in coordination with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and National Police, marking one of the largest corruption busts tied to mobilization evasion since the full-scale invasion. TSN noted a prior SBU uncovering of a similar scheme in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where a VLC head, a TCK employee, and an accomplice processed over 20 fake medical documents for bribes starting at $2,500 per case.
Hlahola, a deputy of the Uzhgorod city council, reported that Pauk was detained “red-handed” while receiving the illegal benefit, reinforcing prosecutors’ claim that the arrest occurred during an active transaction. Photos shared by Hlahola on Telegram showed bundles of foreign currency, underscoring the scale of the illicit funds involved.
Although the investigation remains active, with searches ongoing and the final cash tally expected to rise, the case highlights systemic vulnerabilities in Ukraine’s military-medical evaluation system amid ongoing mobilization pressures. No charges have been formally filed yet, as authorities continue to verify evidence and interview witnesses.
Analysts warn that such schemes undermine troop readiness and public trust in state institutions, particularly when medical commissions are tasked with balancing legitimate health exemptions against manipulation for profit. The use of multiple foreign currencies suggests attempts to obscure the money’s origin or facilitate cross-border handling, though no evidence of international involvement has been presented.
The Berehove VLC, responsible for assessing fitness for service in a strategically important western oblast near the EU border, processes hundreds of evaluations monthly. Its compromise raises concerns about how many fraudulent exemptions may have already been issued and whether similar networks exist elsewhere.
For now, the investigation proceeds under judicial supervision, with Pauk held in custody pending further prosecutorial action. The State Bureau of Investigations has not released additional details, citing the ongoing nature of the probe and the need to preserve evidence integrity.
What specific crime is Volodymyr Pauk accused of committing?
Pauk is accused of accepting bribes to issue fraudulent medical conclusions declaring servicemen “limited fit” for duty, enabling them to avoid mobilization, and of organizing a scheme to systematize these illegal payments through the military-medical commission in Berehove.
How much money have investigators found so far, and in what currencies?
Investigators have seized nearly $500,000 in cash consisting of U.S. Dollars, euros, Hungarian forints, and British pounds sterling, with the final count still ongoing as of April 20, 2026.
Is there evidence linking this case to previous corruption schemes in Ukraine’s military-medical system?
Yes, TSN reported that the SBU previously uncovered a similar scheme in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast involving a VLC head, a TCK employee, and an accomplice who processed over 20 fake medical exemptions for bribes starting at $2,500 per case.