Investigative Committee completes case on theft of 108,000 liters of diesel fuel from the Ministry of Defense

Case completed, defendant in custody

Military investigators have completed the investigation of the criminal case against Roman Menchikov, accused of stealing more than 108,000 liters of diesel fuel intended for the needs of the Russian Ministry of Defense. This was reported by the military investigative bodies of the Investigative Committee of Russia. According to the investigation, the man illegally appropriated fuel for almost six years — from March 2020 to February 2026 — causing the agency multimillion-ruble damage. The case was investigated under the article on theft of another's property on an especially large scale.

Confessing guilt did not spare him arrest

During the investigation, Menchikov pleaded guilty and, according to the Investigative Committee, fully compensated the damage caused to the Ministry of Defense. Despite this, the court, at the request of the military investigator, remanded the defendant in custody. The Investigative Committee noted that the evidence base has been assembled and the case materials are being prepared for transfer to court for consideration on the merits. Thus, the final decision on guilt and punishment has not yet been made — the matter will move to the trial stage.

A similar case in the Far East

This is not the only investigation into the theft of fuel for military needs. Earlier, Life.ru reported on a scheme in Primorsky Krai: employees of commercial organizations, according to the investigation, were appropriating fuel intended for heating military garrisons. The stolen fuel, the investigation suggests, was sold to outside buyers, while boiler houses were supplied with substandard products. A criminal case was opened against the alleged participants in the scheme.