Ukrainian prosecutors say an American mercenary serving in Ukraine was defrauded of about $85,000 by two locals who falsely claimed they could build a laser weapon capable of shooting down drones.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, the suspects staged a fake demonstration to convince the soldier before taking the money, of which around $20,000 has since been recovered.
The pair have been charged with fraud.
The case is among a growing number of scams targeting soldiers and volunteers amid the war, including schemes involving fake charities and embezzled military donations. The surge in financial crimes has deepened concerns over corruption within Ukraine’s defense sector, which has already faced scrutiny from Western allies over transparency and misuse of funds.
Image credit: Mariola Grobelska
