12 million hryvnias for 580 FPV drones: SSU uncovers embezzlement. PHOTOS
A former commander of a Transport and Logistics Brigade and three other individuals are suspected of embezzling over 12 million hryvnias in connection with the procurement of FPV drones for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to Censor.NET, this has been reported by the Security Service of Ukraine’s press centre.
"The Military Counter-Intelligence Department, in cooperation with the Security Service’s Department for the Protection of National Statehood and with the assistance of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Commander of the Territorial Defence Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has exposed a group of individuals who embezzled budget funds during the procurement of unmanned aerial systems for the Ukrainian army.
The investigation established that the organiser of the scheme was a former commander of a Territorial Defence Forces brigade in the Kyiv region, who was in post at the time the offence was committed," the statement reads.
The drones ‘existed’ only on paper
According to the case file, he organised the procurement of 580 FPV drones totalling over 12 million hryvnias, involving other individuals in the illegal activity. The drones were subsequently to be delivered to Armed Forces of Ukraine troops in the Kharkiv sector.
However, according to the available data, the contracts for the supply of the equipment were fictitious. None of the ‘contracted’ drones were delivered to the Ukrainian defenders, which had a negative impact on the execution of tasks on the front line.
Despite this, the perpetrators arranged for documents to be drawn up as if the drones had been handed over to the military. In particular, the official provided forged UAV handover certificates for signature without any actual delivery having taken place.
Following this, the suspect demanded that personnel conceal the absence of the drones during an inspection and process the write-off of the equipment as lost on the battlefield.
The official and three other individuals were detained
SBU officers detained the official at his place of work along with three other individuals.
In accordance with an order from the Commander of the Territorial Defence Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the suspect has been dismissed from his post.
Investigators from the SBU’s Main Investigation Directorate informed the detainees that they were suspected of an offence under Part 2 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations).
An investigation is currently underway to bring to justice all those involved in the scheme.
