The Security Service and the Office of the Prosecutor General, in cooperation with the Minister of Defense, have uncovered another scheme to embezzle funds allocated for the purchase of weapons for Ukraine.

The case involves the embezzlement of over UAH 33 million (USD 794,000) during the purchase of large-caliber rifles for the Armed Forces of Ukraine between March 2022 and May 2023.

According to the investigation, the unlawful scheme was set up by the former director of one of the departments of the Ministry of Defense and the head of a private enterprise.

In the spring of 2022, they signed a contract to supply 1 125 rifles for the front line.

The entrepreneurs then shipped the declared number of small arms to the defense ministry, but not in full, as stipulated in the contract.

The MoD official approved the delivery without justification. Moreover, he did not conclude an additional agreement with the contractor to reduce the cost of the weapons due to the absence of all components.

Subsequently, the official and his accomplice, the director of the supplier company, embezzled the entire ‘saved’ amount.

Based on the evidence, SSU investigators notified both individuals of suspicion under two Articles of the CCU:

• 28.2, 114-1.2 (obstruction of the lawful activities of the AFU, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy);
• 28.2, 191.5 (appropriation, embezzlement or misappropriation of property through abuse of official position, committed on a particularly large scale by a group, upon prior conspiracy).

The decision on measures of restraint is pending. The suspects face up to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property.

An examination is underway to determine whether the rifles comply with tactical and technical specifications. The investigation is ongoing.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General.