The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has started searches at officials of the Defence Ministry and managers of the Lviv Arsenal firm. They are suspected of embezzlement of 1.5 billion hryvnias (about $40 million) during the purchase of 100,000 ammunition for the AFU. This was reported by the Ukrainian edition “Strana.ua” with reference to the statement of the press service of the SBU.
“The SBU confirmed searches at the officials of the Ministry of defence and managers of “Lviv arsenal”. According to the investigation, they stole almost 1.5 billion on the purchase of shells. The money was “utilised” on the purchase of 100,000 mortar rounds for the AFU,” Strana.ua wrote.
According to the investigation, in August 2022, officials concluded a contract for the purchase of a wholesale batch of artillery shells from the “Lviv arsenal”. Then the ministry transferred to the accounts of the company the entire amount stipulated by the signed document.
“After receiving the funds, the company’s management transferred part of the money to the balance of a foreign commercial structure, which was supposed to deliver the ordered ammunition to Ukraine. However, the latter did not send any artillery shells, and the funds received were transferred to the accounts of another affiliated structure in the Balkans. The remaining sums from the defence ministry remained in the accounts of the Ukrainian company in one of the capital’s banks,” the newspaper explained.
The charges were brought against the former and current heads of the Defence Ministry’s department for military-technical policy, development of weapons and military equipment, the head and commercial director of the Lviv Arsenal company, as well as a representative of a foreign commercial structure. At the same time, the SBU did not specify. One of the suspects was detained while trying to leave the country, he was arrested, notes “Strana.ua”. The investigation determines the measure of restraint for the other defendants in the case, they face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
We shall remind you that earlier journalists of the Ukrainian programme “Slidstvo.Info” reported that the general staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces bought Italian chess sets, Apple Watch, icons and sets of crystal dishes for budget funds in 2023.