In Dnipro and the Dnipropetrovsk region, law enforcement officers conducted a large-scale operation during which the management of one of the most important defense enterprises in the country was detained
This enterprise supplied the Ukrainian Armed Forces with over 120,000 defective mortar shells. These events caused widespread public outrage and raise serious concerns about the quality control of military products, which are crucial for Ukraine’s defense capabilities. According to official data released by the Office of the Prosecutor General (OPG), law enforcement detained the general director of the factory, Leonid Shiman, his first deputy, Oleksiy Kyrychенко, 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 this department, Mykhailo Shkurenko. All suspects are accused of committing crimes under articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine that prescribe obstructing the lawful activities of military formations and causing serious consequences. According to the investigation, in order to reduce costs and increase profits, the management of the enterprise organized a scheme for manufacturing ammunition of low quality, equipped with substandard components and defective elements. Specifically, during production, a gunpowder charge was used, one type of which was unsuitable for use in 120-mm mortar shells, leading to unstable operation of the entire charge. Additionally, problems were identified with the ignition capsule, which had defects and could cause misfires—unpredictable failures of the projectile in combat. Furthermore, additional propellant charges were added to the ammunition that did not meet standards and military requirements, further reducing their combat reliability. The organizers of the identified scheme attempted to cut costs cynically: it is known that the management of the enterprise and involved officials ignored obvious problems and did not take appropriate measures to resolve them. They falsified reports and concealed deficiencies to avoid losing contracts and facing legal consequences. As a result of these actions, Ukrainian soldiers 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 After the scheme was uncovered, samples of defective ammunition were withdrawn from the front lines; however, the damage had already been done, and the situation raises questions about the effectiveness of quality control in the defense industry in Ukraine. Law enforcement officers, having carried out comprehensive investigative and procedural measures, detained the suspects, regarding whom the question of choosing preventive measures is currently being prepared. Under the most pessimistic scenario, the perpetrators face up to 15 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property. This case has caused wide public resonance, as its consequences directly affect national security during wartime. Violations of standards and crimes in the defense industry underscore the importance of strict control and high-quality standards to ensure the protection of Ukrainian citizens and military personnel. All these facts once again highlight the need to strengthen internal oversight and fight corruption in the defense sector, as negligence or corruption schemes can undermine the country's combat readiness in critical moments.