A Nikolaev city council member was detained for simulating a missile attack to steal grain.

The National Police reported suspicions against a deputy of the Mykolaiv City Council who fraudulently acquired export products worth over 23 million hryvnias.

This information was provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police of Ukraine.

The case involves a deputy of the Mykolaiv City Council who, at the onset of military aggression, was a member of the OPZZh party. The suspect is also the actual beneficial owner of a company that provides transportation and forwarding services and handles the transshipment of grain, legumes, and oilseeds. His company was loading soybeans for export in the port right before Russia's full-scale invasion.

After the shelling began, the suspect appropriated and sold the soybeans, and to cover up the crime, he reported to the police that shells had allegedly hit the warehouse, resulting in the destruction of the grain.

As established by the operatives of the Department of Strategic Investigations of the National Police, on February 22, 2022, the company, of which the deputy of the Mykolaiv City Council is the actual beneficial owner, started loading soybeans; however, due to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, all processes were halted, the crew members were evacuated, and the vessel with the cargo remained at the dock. The suspect then decided to take possession of the cargo and sell it.

The soybeans were transferred to a warehouse on the port's premises.

«To conceal the criminal activity, the suspect arranged for debris from a missile nearby, which had been previously provided by unidentified individuals, and reported to the police to document the "destruction" of the product. Such actions relieved the suspect from liability to counterparties and provided an opportunity to approach the court regarding compensation for the property», - reads the statement.

Thus, the city council deputy appropriated and sold over 1500 tons of soybeans, valued at over 23,000,000 hryvnias.

Based on the evidence collected by the National Police investigators, the Deputy Prosecutor General informed the organizer of the transaction about the suspicion.

He is charged with organizing the appropriation of someone else's property through deception (fraud), committed by a group of individuals in a particularly large amount (part 3 of article 27, part 4 of article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The question of selecting a preventive measure for the suspect is being resolved.

Investigative actions continue to establish the full circle of individuals involved in the fraudulent scheme.

The man faces up to eight years of imprisonment for his actions.

The case concerns Mykolaiv City Council deputy Oleg Afanasyev.