The State Operator of the Ministry of Defense's logistics has signed a new contract with Temp-3000 for the supply of 20,000 combat helmets worth UAH 163.2 million. And although the price of one Kaska-2M helmet has remained at UAH 8,160 ($194), and the terms of the tender look standard, the main question remains: why did only one company, Temp-3000, participate again?
In the public procurement system, the tender ended in the same way as many previous ones - with the automatic victory of the sole participant. The last time two suppliers met in the auction was back in May 2024. Since then, Temp-3000 has consistently received contracts without competitive competition. And even relatively simple requirements - experience in implementing a similar contract for 30% of the purchase price and the corresponding income for 2024 - do not encourage other players to enter the market.
The company "Temp-3000", whose full name is LLC "NVP "Temp-3000", is well known in the defense sector. It is part of a large group of 18 legal entities under the same brand. Formally, the owners are the venture fund "Economics" (50%) of Stanislav Lesnikov and Yuriy Yevtushenko (50%).
And Lesnikov's name is among those that most often appear in investigations. In 2024, the SBU officially declared him a suspect in the case of shadowy influence on the financial flows of Ukrzaliznytsia during the Poroshenko and Avakov eras.
In addition, the company has repeatedly appeared in criminal proceedings due to the supply of low-quality bulletproof vests that did not pass ballistic tests. However, these episodes did not prevent Temp-3000 from winning government tenders totaling almost 10 billion hryvnias since 2016.
Formally, there is no monopoly — participation in tenders is open to everyone. But in fact, only Temp-3000 systematically receives orders for personal protective equipment, armor, and helmets for the army. Other players are either not allowed or do not apply at all.
As a result, the state pays significant amounts without being sure of the price's competitiveness. Against the backdrop of a protracted war, high demand, and a reduced budget, this practice looks risky, to say the least.
