In Netishyn, Khmelnytskyi Oblast, drones for the Ukrainian military have found themselves at the center of a high-profile criminal case. The local city council signed three contracts with LLC “Dronika” for over UAH 16 million. The investigation believes that the suppliers installed cheaper components on the FPV drones and could have embezzled the difference.
According to the prosecutor's office, the losses could amount to a third of the contract amount - over 5 million UAH.
Netishyn Mayor Oleksandr Suprunyuk confirmed that he had been charged with official negligence. Later, another charge was announced against him under Articles 364 Part 2 and 191 Part 4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The charge concerns signing acceptance and delivery certificates for drones that did not meet the stated specifications.
“ When a video transmitter should cost eight thousand, but is installed for two thousand more, this is the difference that is purchased with budget funds ,” explained Roman Semenyuk, head of the department of the Shepetiv District Prosecutor's Office.
The case was transferred to the Netishyn City Court.
The mayor's lawyer, Andriy Mazalov, stated that during wartime, speed of delivery is more important than bureaucratic procedures:
" If Mr. Suprunyuk had put together a commission for the commission, the military would have received drones when they were no longer needed ."
Suprunyuk himself calls the case politically motivated. On his Facebook page, he wrote that he found himself in the same row as other mayors who criticize the usurpation of power by appointed officials.
The court suspended the mayor from office for another two months and imposed a preventive measure in the form of nightly house arrest. Despite this, the city council is operating as usual, preparing for the school year and the heating season.
The city council also publicly supported Suprunyuk, stating that it was thanks to his position that the community actively helped the front from the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
