In early summer 2024, a new scandal erupted in Ukraine related to the procurement of flasks for the needs of the Armed Forces. This case became evidence of problems in the Ministry of Defense, where, according to public activists and experts, instead of professionalism and honesty, corruption schemes and dishonest practices often prevail.
The other day, the US State Department published a report on combating human trafficking in Ukraine, in which it noted that our state does not meet some standards - due to corruption. And they are right in this, with one caveat - suspects in human trafficking are employed in our country and work in high government positions.
Meet: Kurovska Natalia Sergiyevna – a native of Perm, Russia. Since the fall of 2022, she has held the position of Deputy Head of the Procurement Policy Department of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. She was hired for this position by Dmitry Klimenkov, Deputy Minister of this department. But this is just the beginning…
Natalya Kurovska, together with her ex-husband Oleksandr, appeared in criminal proceedings No. 2021101060000034 dated 12.03.2021 under Part 2 of Article 303 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (pimping or involving a person in prostitution). According to the investigation, the Kurovska created a group “Love is” on Whatʼs App. It posted ads with job offers for girls. Administrators indicated not only places to meet with the client, but also the necessary parameters of the women and the cost of services. The sex business operated in Kyiv, the Russian Federation, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and also in Europe.
In addition, in 2022, Oleksandr Kurovsky was notified of suspicion in criminal proceedings No. 12022100060001493 under Part 2 of Article 149 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (human trafficking). He was charged with recruiting and harboring citizens for the purpose of selling them to pimps for sexual exploitation in the Kingdom of Morocco.
In the summer of 2023, Nataliya Kurovska divorced her husband, who, according to court documents, is on the run. The divorce was probably filed to hide her scandalous biography, as it was after the divorce that she was appointed to a senior position in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
Interestingly, Kurovskyi Oleksandr Borisovich himself filed a declaration for 2023 in which he notes his current employment in the structure of the Ministry of Defense, where he received UAH 603,438 in salary last year. Moreover, in his declaration, he indicates Natalia Kurovskyi as his wife.
Let's return to Ms. Natalia. In 2023, as Deputy Head of the Procurement Policy Department of the Ministry of Defense, she received UAH 679,446 in salary. She did not declare any savings or other significant income. In April 2023, she registered the right to use a 2018 MAZDA CX-5 car, the price of which in the declaration is UAH 389,931. (The price is significantly understated; registering a car for a person from the outside is often used by officials to hide corrupt funds; Kurovska's official income until April 2023 is less than the price of the car).
Note that the possible corruption scheme with the car is just a trifle, because in early 2024, Natalia Kurovska became the owner of an apartment in the Solomianskyi district of the capital - the purchase of which she has not yet reflected in her declaration in any way.
Regarding criminal cases, the court registers indicate the suspension of the pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings No. 12022100060001733 dated 12.12.2022.
But was this done through corruption, as the US State Department noted in its report – this question remains open?.
