In the case concerning an attempt to discredit and unlawfully bring criminal charges against former commander of the "Mahura" battalion Oleksandr Shirshyn, law enforcement officers have detained a fourth participant in the scheme.
This was reported by the Prosecutor General’s Office.
According to investigators, the detainee provided accomplices with access to the former battalion commander’s car. On 28 August 2026, on the instructions of other participants in the scheme, he used mechanical tools to open the serviceman’s car, which was parked in Kharkiv.
After that, according to the investigation, previously purchased narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances were planted inside the vehicle.
The man has been served with a notice of suspicion for aiding and abetting unlawful entry into another person’s property, committed by a group of persons acting in prior conspiracy – Part 5 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 162 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
This is already the fourth exposed participant in the scheme. Earlier, three former law enforcement officers, who are currently serving in the military, were notified of suspicion.
According to investigators, they organised surveillance of the former battalion commander, collected information about his movements, and also facilitated entry into the car and the planting of prohibited substances. In this way, law enforcement believe, artificial grounds were created to bring the serviceman to criminal liability.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement officers are identifying other individuals who may have been involved in organising and carrying out the scheme.
Context
On the afternoon of 28 August in Kharkiv, police stopped the car of serviceman Oleksandr Shirshyn, an officer with the headquarters of the 16th Army Corps. According to the serviceman, officers said they had information that he was "on something". Shirshyn offered to undergo a test; he was told it had to be done at a medical facility, and they asked to inspect his car.
They found nothing prohibited in the boot, after which officers asked to inspect the interior and repeatedly asked whether he had anything illegal. After inspecting the interior and his personal belongings, they asked to check the armrest.
"I don’t use that armrest because it’s the back seat. I open the armrest and there’s some kind of packet. I take it out and he says: ‘What’s that?’ I say: ‘I don’t know.’ I unwrap it and there’s weed with scales. And a pile of little bags," he said.
Investigative actions lasted several hours, and Shirshyn brought in lawyers. After the first search of the car, police found packets not only with "weed" but also with other substances.
The serviceman said the drugs had been planted in a planned operation.
In a comment to Ukrainska Pravda, police in Kharkiv Region said Shirshyn had not been detained – he was summoned to the district police station as a witness in connection with the "seizure of substances that may be narcotic drugs".
The 16th Army Corps urged people to refrain from premature conclusions and accusations. The corps is conducting an internal inquiry into the circumstances of the serviceman’s detention.
"We know Oleksandr as a serviceman devoted to the defence of Ukraine, and as a principled person who seeks meaningful change in the Armed Forces and has already proved he was right in court," the statement said.
Later, Shirshyn said he had noticed signs of surveillance and a break-in to his flat before the drugs were planted. He contacted the police, but there was no result.
Oleksandr Shirshyn is one of the servicemen who has publicly spoken about the loss of fighters and violent methods in certain assault units of the Defence Forces.
Previously, he publicly criticised the military command over certain operations on Russian territory that led to significant losses among Ukrainian troops. After that, Shirshyn was labelled "undisciplined". He overturned this status in court.