In Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions, law enforcement conducted a large-scale operation during which the leadership of one of the country’s most important defense enterprises was detained
This company supplied the Ukrainian Armed Forces with over 120,000 defective mortar shells. These events caused widespread public outrage and cast doubt on the quality control of military production, which is critical for Ukraine’s defense capabilities. According to official information released by the Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG), law enforcement detained the plant's CEO, Leonid Shiman, his first deputy, Oleksiy Kyrychenko, as well as the head of the quality control group of the military representation of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine — Yuriy Yaresko and the former head of that unit, Mykhailo Shkurenko. All suspects are accused of crimes under articles of the Ukrainian Criminal Code that involve obstructing the lawful activities of military formations and causing serious consequences. Investigations revealed that, in order to cut costs and increase profits, the plant's management organized a scheme to produce ammunition of poor quality, fitted with unacceptable components and defective parts. Specifically, during manufacturing, a gunpowder charge was used, one type of which was unsuitable for use in 120mm mortar shells, leading to unstable functioning of the entire charge. Additionally, issues were found with the igniter capsule, which had defects that could cause misfires—a unpredictable failure of the shell during combat. Further, the ammunition included propellant charges that did not meet military standards and requirements, further undermining their combat reliability. The masterminds behind this scheme attempted to cheapen production in a cynical manner: it is known that the plant management and involved officials ignored obvious problems and failed to take appropriate measures to fix them. They falsified reports and hid deficiencies to avoid losing contracts and facing legal repercussions. As a result of these actions, Ukrainian troops received over 120,000 shells that were effectively non-functional and posed a serious threat to the combat readiness of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. After the scheme was uncovered, samples of the defective ammunition were withdrawn from the front lines; however, the damage had already been done. This situation calls into question the reliability of the oversight of defense production in Ukraine. Law enforcement carried out a series of investigative and procedural measures, leading to the detention of the suspects, for whom a pre-trial detention is currently being prepared. Under the most pessimistic scenario, the offenders face up to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property. This case has caused considerable public resonance, as its consequences directly affect the country's security during wartime. Violations of standards and crimes within the defense industry highlight the importance of strict oversight and high-quality standards to ensure the protection of Ukrainian citizens and servicemen. All these facts further emphasize the need to strengthen internal controls and combat corruption in the defense sector, as negligence or corrupt schemes can undermine the country's combat effectiveness at a critical moment.