Former Deputy Head of the State Special Communications Service Viktor Zhora announced his joining the Defense Forces of Ukraine. He is being charged in a case of embezzlement of UAH 62 million in state funds.
Former Deputy Head of the State Special Communications Service Viktor Zhora announced his joining the Defense Forces of Ukraine. He is being charged in a case of embezzlement of UAH 62 million in state funds.
«Friends, today I finally got in touch, so I’m glad to inform you that I joined the security and defense forces more than a month ago. There is no faith in the 'security guarantees' of the occupiers. We will not give up Ukrainian land», -Zhora wrote on his Facebook.
On November 20, 2023, NABU and SAPO informed the heads of the State Special Communications Service of suspicion of embezzlement of state funds in the amount of over UAH 62 million. In particular, the case concerned the former head of the State Special Communications Service, Yuriy Shchyhol, and his deputy, Viktor Zhora, who were arrested with the right to post bail of UAH 25 million and UAH 10 million, respectively.
Later, the NABU released a video of correspondence between the leadership of the State Special Communications Service, in which Shchygol is called «Ptakh», and the department itself is called «Kolkhoz». It also discusses the complexity of transporting 22 kg of cash. After that, the former deputy head of the State Special Communications Service, Viktor Zhora, called the NABU information «PR instead of evidence» on Facebook.
In July 2025, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office referred to court a case of the misappropriation of over UAH 62 million by an organized group that included the leadership of the State Special Communications Service.
«The investigation established that during 2020-2022, the owner of a group of companies, in collusion with the leadership of the State Special Communications Service, developed a scheme to appropriate budget funds allocated for the purchase of software. For this purpose, two controlled companies were involved, and the purchase was classified in order to avoid open bidding and ensure their victory,» the NABU noted.
Last year, it became known that former head of the State Special Communications Service, Yuriy Shchygol, had joined the Defense Forces. He said that he works in the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Defense Ministry.
«I have some professional knowledge, despite suspicions and journalistic investigations,» he said.
