Ukrainian law enforcement agencies have detained a port official and an alleged intermediary for allegedly demanding a Hr. 500,000 ($11,200) payment from a contractor.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said Friday that the official was a deputy head of the Chornomorsk branch of the state-owned Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA).
The SBU said it uncovered the alleged scheme jointly with the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR).
According to investigators, the official demanded the money from a representative of a private contractor responsible for modernizing a railway crossing and tracks. In exchange, the suspects allegedly promised to influence Ukrzaliznytsia officials to approve updated project documentation.
“This concerns the approval of updated project documentation under a previously concluded contract for the reconstruction of railway track on the territory of the Chornomorsk Commercial Sea Port,” the SBU said in its press release.
Investigators allege that the port official enlisted a female acquaintance who owns a local private company to act as an intermediary and receive the money.
According to the SBU, the intermediary was detained while receiving the full amount from the contractor. The port official was subsequently detained at his workplace.
Both were served notices of suspicion of abuse of influence under Ukraine’s Criminal Code. If convicted, they face up to eight years in prison and confiscation of property.
Ukraine’s Black Sea ports have faced increasingly frequent Russian missile and drone attacks in recent months. The strikes have severely disrupted the country’s maritime exports, with traffic to Greater Odesa ports falling sharply in August.