Exposing the scheme in the field of defense procurement
The Office of the Attorney General and the State Bureau of Investigations have uncovered a scheme in the field of defense procurement connected with the supply of unfit mines and the embezzlement of advances. A private company entered into five contracts worth over 10 billion hryvnias, under which the supply of more than 360 thousand sets of various types of mines was anticipated.
The total losses from this scheme amount to 2 billion 994 million hryvnias. Of these, 571.3 million hryvnias is the cost of defective mines, which do not meet the requirements and cannot be used. In addition, 2.423 billion hryvnias constitutes the embezzled advance payment, raising serious concerns about the transparency and efficiency of defense procurement.
Investigation and consequences
As a result of the investigation, 10 individuals have been notified of suspicion, four of whom have already been detained. In the autumn of 2024, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received a poor-quality batch of 120 mm caliber mines produced by Ukroboronprom. Ruslan Kravchenko, a representative of the Office of the Attorney General, noted that the investigation results revealed dangerous production defects:
“A significant portion of the supplied mines are unfit for use.” — Ruslan Kravchenko
Kravchenko also emphasized the importance of determining the final amount of losses and all involved in this scheme: “Our task is to return the money to the state and ensure fair punishment for the guilty.” This situation raises doubts about the effectiveness of defense procurement in Ukraine and raises concerns about safety, as unfit mines may threaten the lives of military personnel.
This investigation highlights serious problems in the field of defense procurement in Ukraine, which not only threaten the state's financial resources but also the safety of military personnel. The revealed facts of possible fraud and the supply of poor-quality products may lead to broader changes in the system of control over defense contracts. In particular, there is a need to strengthen transparency and accountability mechanisms in this area to avoid similar situations in the future.