Investigation into Extensive Misappropriation of Mortar Shells and Corruption Scheme Culminates in Court
A large-scale corruption scheme involving the Ukrainian military and public procurement contracts has finally been brought to judicial proceedings.
The Office of the Prosecutor General completed an investigative process into abuse of public procurement related to arms supplies for Ukraine’s Armed Forces.
According to case materials, the scheme involved a complex fraud that cost the government at least 1.34 billion hryvnias—that’s the estimated value of a contract for 100,000 mortar shells.
Despite the Ministry of Defense’s full payment, investigators found that part of the transaction was forged, and the weapons were never delivered to the front lines.
It was established that the criminal operation involved military officials collaborating with representatives of a private weapons supplier.
All actions were coordinated within an organized group engaged in illegal activities, according to the investigation.
Two more individuals wanted in connection with the case are currently under separate investigation.
Prosecutorial documents have been submitted to the Higher Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine.
The accused are charged under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which pertains to large-scale embezzlement of state funds.
The suspects face up to 12 years of imprisonment.
Prosecutors also remind that under Article 62 of the Ukrainian Constitution, every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court verdict.