The Security Service has collected a large-scale evidence base that testifies to the corrupt activities of the former Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine and former head of the State Procurement Department of this department.
Officials are part of the embezzlement of budget money for purchasing the body armor as well as winter uniforms for the Armed Forces units, which perform combat tasks at the front.
The illicit activities of the participants has resulted in losses to the Ukrainian state budget in the total amount of more than UAH 1 billion.
According to the investigation, the officials of the defense department organized the installation at the beginning of March 2022.
For the implementation, they have purchased around 3,000 body armor worth over UAH 130 million from foreign company. At the same time, more than 100 million hryvnias from this amount were appropriated by the participants of the scheme.
The commodity examination initiated by the SBU established that the real market value of these means of protection is only UAH 25 million.
Moreover, the purchased bulletproof vests do not meet the declared protection class.
It was also established that the organizers of the “scheme” purchased a wholesale batch of low-quality winter jackets and pants for the soldiers of the Armed Forces for the total amount of UAH 900 million.
The purchased property does not meet the requirements for use in the cold season in conditions of intensive hostilities.
During searches of the place of work and residence of the persons involved, documentation and other material evidence of their illegal activities were found.
Based on the collected materials, the investigators of the Security Service notified both former officials of suspicion under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
▪️ Part 5 Art. 191 (appropriation, waste of property or possession of it by abuse of official position),
▪️ Part 2 Art. 28 part 1 of Art. 114-1 (obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations).
Currently, both criminals are already in custody on suspicion of similar crimes. Thus, the ex-deputy Minister of Defense previously received another suspicion for involvement in the purchase of food products for the Armed Forces at inflated prices and low-quality ammunition (Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code). At the same time, the ex-head of the Department has been in custody since February 2023, according to SBU materials.
Investigations are ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime. Perpetrators face up to 12 years in prison.
Thanks to the principled position of the Security Service, the replacement of low-quality protective equipment for servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine purchased through equipment has been initiated.
Comprehensive measures were carried out under the procedural guidance of the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office in the field of defense of the Office of the Prosecutor General.