NewsUkrainian Security uncovers $40m heist from defense budget by inside agents

Ukrainian Security uncovers $40m heist from defense budget by inside agents

The investigative officers found that a contract for purchasing ammunition from the supplier, Lvivskyi Arsenal, was signed in August 2022 by Defense Ministry employees. After the Ministry had paid the entire amount, a portion of the received funds was directed to an offshore account. It was initially stated that this account belonged to an entity that was to supply the required ammunition to Ukraine.

They tried to rob Ukraine of money for ammunition. Officials arrested.
They tried to rob Ukraine of money for ammunition. Officials arrested.
Images source: © SBU

Jan 28, 2024 | updated: 4:44 AM EST, March 7, 2024

However, according to a statement released by the SBU on Saturday evening, the company did not forward a single shell and instead channeled the received funds to the accounts of a linked establishment in the Balkans. The remaining funds rest in a Kyiv bank account owned by a different Ukrainian company.

The monetary allocation had been intended for procuring 100,000 pieces of mortar ammunition for the Ukrainian military.

Investigation identifies five culprits

The investigation has found that five individuals, who were allegedly involved in this crime, had information about the possible commission of a crime. One of them was apprehended at the border while attempting to exit Ukraine. If convicted, they could face a sentence of up to 12 years of imprisonment along with asset confiscation. The embezzled money has been confiscated and is expected to be restored back to the state treasury.

© essanews.com
·

Downloading, reproduction, storage, or any other use of content available on this website—regardless of its nature and form of expression (in particular, but not limited to verbal, verbal-musical, musical, audiovisual, audio, textual, graphic, and the data and information contained therein, databases and the data contained therein) and its form (e.g., literary, journalistic, scientific, cartographic, computer programs, visual arts, photographic)—requires prior and explicit consent from Wirtualna Polska Media Spółka Akcyjna, headquartered in Warsaw, the owner of this website, regardless of the method of exploration and the technique used (manual or automated, including the use of machine learning or artificial intelligence programs). The above restriction does not apply solely to facilitate their search by internet search engines and uses within contractual relations or permitted use as specified by applicable law.Detailed information regarding this notice can be found  here.