Suspect Former Defense Official Over 300 Million UAH Waste on Water Supplies for the Armed Forces
The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) has announced the suspicion of a former head of the Department of State Purchases and Material Resources Supply of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense for abuse of power and causing significant financial damage.
According to investigators, this individual is responsible for signing water supply contracts for Ukrainian troops, which led to losses exceeding 322 million hryvnias.
Specifically, in 2022, the suspect violated public procurement legislation by signing two agreements that failed to comply with economic principles, neglected to consider market prices, and did not verify supplier calculations.
The suspect is charged under Part 4 of Article 425 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which entails up to 8 years in prison for negligent attitude to military service.
While the name has not yet been disclosed, sources suggest it might be Bogdan Khmelnitsky, who managed the relevant department in 2022.
Media reports indicate that this case is yet another example revealing systemic misconduct in military procurement procedures, raising concerns about corruption within military supply chains.
Previously, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) uncovered schemes involving the procurement of food products for the armed forces, including inflated prices for eggs—up to 17 UAH per piece—and suspected embezzlement by officials, such as former deputy defense minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov.
These investigations highlight deep-rooted issues in the control over military spending, directly impacting Ukraine’s defense capabilities and public trust in government institutions.