Former defense official detained on embezzlement charges
A former Defense Ministry department head and his private sector accomplice have been detained on charges of embezzling UAH33 million ($790,000) via rifle procurement contracts, Ukrainian authorities announced on July 2.
According to Ukraine’s SBU security service and the Prosecutor General’s Office, the misappropriation of public funds occurred between March 2022 and May 2023 in connection with the procurement of large-caliber rifles for the Ukrainian military. In spring 2022, the suspects signed a contract to supply 1,125 rifles. However, the delivery to the Defense Ministry was incomplete, with the firearms arriving without the full set of components stipulated in the contract.
The SBU said a ministry official unjustifiably approved the incomplete shipment and failed to negotiate a revised deal with the contractor to reduce the cost of the equipment given the missing parts. The former official and the supplier’s general director later funneled the “saved” funds to their private accounts.
Charged with obstructing the lawful activities of the armed forces and embezzling state property, the suspects face up to 15 years in prison.
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