The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) together with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have reported new suspicions against the former Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine and two other former officials regarding the embezzlement of almost 950 million hryvnias of state funds for the purchase of bulletproof vests for the army. This notification came in accordance with the investigations related to the conclusion of an agreement between the Ministry of Defense and an Eastern European company for the supply of bulletproof vests.
According to the State Bureau of Investigation, the products purchased in 2022 did not meet standards and could not be used by servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) for their intended purpose due to their poor quality. This could pose a serious threat to the lives and health of servicemen on the front lines.
A joint investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) led to the three defendants being charged under Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 114-1, and Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. These articles provide for a penalty of up to 15 years in prison for obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations, embezzlement of other people's property on a particularly large scale, and under martial law.
