Corruption

SBI completes high-profile investigation into procurement at the Ministry of Defence

The State Bureau of Investigation has completed an investigation into former officials of the Ministry of Defence who are accused of purchasing low-quality clothing and uniforms for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the citing the SBI press service.

The SBI suspects the former ministry officials of “obstructing the legitimate activities of the Armed Forces, which caused grave consequences worth UAH 1.4 billion and embezzlement of more than UAH 222 million”.

The former Deputy Minister of Defence, according to the investigation, lobbied for contracts for low-quality clothing and equipment at inflated prices and on a full prepayment basis. According to one of the episodes of the case, the Armed Forces of Ukraine received bulletproof vests of inadequate quality from abroad, which cannot be used in combat without endangering life.

The former officials were notified of suspicion of obstructing the legitimate activities of the Armed Forces, embezzlement of property on a particularly large scale through abuse of office, committed by a group of persons under martial law (Article 28(2), Article 114-1(2), Article 191(5) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Now they face up to 15 years in prison. The case will be sent to court after the defence has reviewed the case.

This case resonates with the high-profile case of businessman Igor Grinkevich, who is accused of supplying the Armed Forces with low-quality clothing worth UAH 1.2 billion. The day before, all five members of the criminal group were detained and remanded in custody with a total bail of over UAH 2.5 billion.