The collateral posted by the companies for Serhiy Pashinskyi itself became the subject of a debt to the Ministry of Defense in the amount of 364 million hryvnias. However, these companies found free funds and posted 272 million hryvnias of collateral for the former People's Deputy, who is accused of stealing 97 thousand tons of fuel for the Armed Forces of Ukraine worth almost 1 billion hryvnias.
According to information received from law enforcement sources, the companies actually owed the Ministry of Defense 364 million hryvnias. The ministry has filed lawsuits against them, which are currently being considered in court. For example, LLC “Ukrainian Armored Equipment” is included in six lawsuits of the ministry for the amount of more than 123 million hryvnias, and LLC “Thermal Vision Technologies” – in one lawsuit for 240 million hryvnias. In total – 364 million hryvnias. These companies, which paid the bail for Pashynsky, belong to the National Association of Defense Industry Enterprises of Ukraine, headed by Pashynsky.
According to sources, the amount of the Ministry of Defense's claims against companies associated with Pashinsky may be significantly higher if we take into account cases containing state secrets.
The expert notes that contracts with these Defense Ministry suppliers were signed after 100% prepayment, but, according to lawsuits, they were not fulfilled. Now the state is trying to return the funds through the courts.
Also, the head of the State Audit Service, Alla Basalayeva, reported that the contractors of the Ministry of Defense, with whom contracts were concluded for the supply of weapons, owed the state almost 5 billion hryvnias.
The expert writes that given the lack of funds for the army, it would be more reasonable to direct this money to the needs of the Armed Forces, rather than to post a large bail for a person accused of stealing fuel worth a billion hryvnias. This, according to the expert, undermines the country's defense capabilities in favor of the political interests and business schemes of a particular individual.
As a reminder, on February 26, the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court arrested Pashinsky, who is suspected of conspiring with others to steal the so-called “Kurchenko oil products”. He was taken into custody with the alternative of bail of 272.52 million hryvnias, but members of the National Association of Defense Industry Enterprises later posted full bail for him. According to media reports, Ukrainian Armored Vehicles LLC paid 62.5 million hryvnias, and Thermal Vision Technologies LLC paid 40 million hryvnias.
The media also distributed recordings of conversations between the former MP and his inner circle, which show that he actually purchased weapons for the army at twice the price.
