Ukraine prosecutors file cases over UAH 248M defense sector losses

This was reported on the website of the Prosecutor General’s Office, according to Ukrinform.

Among the suspects are: the former head of the Ministry of Defense’s Procurement Department, military unit commanders, service chiefs, and heads of private enterprises.

According to investigators, the officials operated in different regions and areas of army supply, but the consequences of their actions were the same – multimillion losses to the state and threats to proper provision of the Armed Forces. Total damage exceeds UAH 248 million.

Specifically, law enforcement uncovered cases of supplying the Armed Forces with low-quality uniforms, acquiring software unsuitable for military use, illegal write-offs and theft of diesel fuel, food supply fraud, and unlawful bonus payments.

The first documented case concerns Ministry of Defense procurements. The former head of the Procurement Department has been charged under Part 4 of Article 425 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code (negligent attitude toward military service).

According to investigators, due to his improper performance of official duties, the Armed Forces received substandard uniforms worth over UAH 230 million.

Another case concerns digital technologies. A military unit commander is accused of negligence that led to the purchase of software unfit for military purposes, causing UAH 1.8 million in damage.

In a separate case, prosecutors charged a unit commander, a deputy logistics chief, and a supply company commander with organizing the illegal write-off and theft of diesel fuel worth over UAH 1.7 million.

Serious violations were also recorded in food supply. Investigators say a private company director embezzled UAH 8 million in budget funds by delivering substandard food products to the military.

Separately, pre-trial investigation has been completed against a military unit’s chief of staff, accused of unlawfully granting nearly UAH 5 million in bonus payments to servicemen who had not taken part in combat.

As reported by Ukrinform earlier, the High Anti-Corruption Court received an indictment against former officials of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense and representatives of a private company over a contract for ammunition procurement worth UAH 1.34 billion, which never reached the Armed Forces.

Photo: Prosecutor General’s Office