Two Lawyers Charged With Extorting a Ukrainian Drone Maker

Two lawyers defrauded a Ukrainian drone manufacturer of €55,000 and demanded another $150,000, but were exposed and notified of suspicion, the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office, the Security Service (SBU) and the National Police reported.

How the scheme worked

"In May 2026 the lawyers approached the director and began to convince him that law enforcement was allegedly planning investigative actions against him, and that the enterprise was at risk of losing its critical status and having its work stopped. For €55,000 they promised to reach an understanding with law enforcement representatives and prevent investigative actions," the prosecutor's office said. The firm makes interceptor drones for the Armed Forces.

The enterprise has critical-infrastructure status and works for defence needs. Trying to avoid a stoppage, the director handed over the agreed sum. After receiving the money, the lawyers created the impression that they had done what they promised and for a time stopped contacting the businessman.

The second demand

At the end of August the lawyers approached him again, claiming there were new, in reality non-existent, investigations that they could allegedly stop. This time the director realised he was being cheated and went to law enforcement. In August 2026 the lawyers were detained after receiving $150,000.

Charges and sanctions

Under the procedural supervision of the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office, both lawyers were notified of suspicion of fraud and of completed attempted fraud on an especially large scale (Part 5 of Article 190 and Part 2 of Article 15 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Part 5 of Article 190 carries a prison term of 5 to 12 years with confiscation of property. The suspects were placed under house arrest at night. More in our World section.