The Ukrainian Defense Sector was again in the center of a high -profile corruption scandal. The Security Service of Ukraine is investigating criminal proceedings against officials of the Zaporizhzhya State Joint Stock Company "Ivchenko-Progress" and a number of private companies suspected of conspiracy for theft of public funds through the scheme of fictitious purchases.
According to the investigation, during 2021–2023 the management of Ivchenko-Progress, which is part of JSC “Ukrainian Defense Industry”, transferred more than 120 million hryvnias to the accounts of two companies-LLC “PP Carbon” and LLC “UPK Carbon”. Both firms did not have production facilities, staff or warehouses, and their income was almost completely dependent on contracts with a state -owned enterprise.
In fact, these structures performed the function of intermediaries, repeating goods at inflated prices. Among the purchases are plates of 3D-carbon composite, cathode, furnaces and more. However, the analysis of market value found that the amounts in the documents were significantly inflated.
In order to avoid open tenders, officials of the state -owned enterprise created conditions under which only PP Carbon and UPC Carbon could supply equipment. Certificates of quality and origin of goods were issued on behalf of foreign companies that were not really related to supply.
The investigation found that firms actually existed only on paper. Some of the state funds remained in their accounts, the other - was transferred to the accounts of other companies, among which special attention of law enforcement officers attracted Bridge Constraxchn LLC.
This company, which was formally engaged in construction, actively participated in tenders in Dnipro, Boyarka and Cherry. It won about 50 purchases, but the investigation found that the works were carried out by third parties, and most of the funds were transferred through the chains of the false companies and withdrawn in cash.
Among the contractors, which were transferred millions of hryvnias, were:
LLC "Klimion" - 66 million UAH
- LLC "Milk Territory 2019" - 51 million UAH
- LLC "Aquaplast" - UAH 36.2 million
- LLC "Dniprobud Invest" - UAH 20.4 million UAH
Instead of real construction, funds were used for laundering due to fictitious transactions: the purpose of payments was changed from payment of goods for financial assistance or dividends.
The financial monitoring service and the tax service have confirmed numerous signs of legalization of funds obtained by crime. As of now, the accounts of Bridzh Constraxchn are blocked in several banks, including JSC "EPB", JSC "KB Globus" and JSC "Sens Bank".
It is noted separately that recently the company changed the owner - instead of Dnipro Pesyura, the head of Kazakhstan Alexei Kamalov became the head of Kazakhstan. This may indicate an attempt to bring the company from the jurisdiction of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies.
The case is investigated under Part 3 of Art. 258-5 (terrorism financing) and Part 3 of Art. 209 (laundering) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
