120,000 defective shells reached the frontline: SBU detains management of defense plant
29 April 22:38
The Security Service of Ukraine, with the assistance of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, has exposed the organizers of a scheme to supply defective mortar shells to the frontline. This was reported by the SBU press service, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
The Armed Forces of Ukraine were supplied with more than 120,000 unusable rounds, which were withdrawn from the front line, causing significant damage to the combat capability of the Defense Forces.
As a result of comprehensive measures, the general director of a defense plant and his first deputy were detained in Dnipropetrovs’k region for supplying the Armed Forces with a batch of ammunition that turned out to be unsuitable for combat use. The ex-head of one of the military missions of the Ministry of Defense and the head of the control group of the relevant unit were also detained.
According to the investigation, in early 2024, the plant’s management entered into an agreement with the Defense Procurement Agency to manufacture ammunition for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The company was to supply the Armed Forces with wholesale batches of 120mm mortar rounds worth more than UAH 11 billion.
According to the conclusions of the examination, a mixture of powders was used in the production of shells, one of which is not intended for use in charges of up to 120 mm mortar rounds, which led to the unstable operation of the entire powder charge. In addition, the fuze capsules were defective, which led to misfires. In this way, the organizers of the fraud tried to reduce the cost of production in order to make more profit.
The scheme involved officials of the military representative office, which controls the quality of defense products. However, military officials deliberately entered false information in the reporting documentation on product quality. As a result, 120,000 unusable rounds of ammunition were sent to the front line.
Currently, all four detainees are suspected under Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces and other military formations, committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy, which led to grave consequences).
They face a sentence of 15 years in prison.
