EW only on paper: ESBU sent the case of misappropriation of over 5.6 million UAH in procurement for the military to court

 Over 5.6 million UAH allocated to purchase 40 electronic warfare stations for two military units was transferred to suppliers, but the military never received the equipment. Four members of an organized group accused of misappropriating budget funds will stand trial.

Detectives of the Main Detectives Unit of the  Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine completed the pretrial investigation and forwarded the indictment to the court.

The investigation established that the managers of two private enterprises, the director of a municipal enterprise, and a lawyer were involved in the scheme. The organizer was one of the managers of the private companies, who is also registered as an individual entrepreneur.

During May–July 2024, the municipal enterprise concluded two contracts for the purchase of stationary and mobile EW stations. The equipment was to be purchased with funds from the budget of the Siverskodonetsk city territorial community within the framework of the assistance program for military units and law enforcement agencies.

Under the first contract, over 3.3 mln UAH was transferred to the supplier for 25 stations, and under the second, over 2.2 mln UAH for another 15.

According to the documents of the municipal enterprise, the EW stations were transferred to the military units. However, detectives established that the equipment actually did not arrive at their locations. The military units confirmed that they had not requested its receipt and had not signed acceptance acts.

After payment under the contracts, the budget funds were withdrawn through several enterprises to the accounts of the organizer of the scheme as an individual entrepreneur and to controlled economic entities. The total amount of damages is over 5.6 million UAH.

The organizer is charged under Part 3 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (organization of the commission of a crime; misappropriation of property by abuse of official position in especially large amounts), the co-executors under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation of property by abuse of official position in especially large amounts), and the accomplice under Part 5 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (accompliceship in the commission of a crime; misappropriation of property by abuse of official position in especially large amounts).

Procedural guidance is carried out by prosecutors of the Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the Defense Sphere of the Eastern Region. Operational support was provided by employees of the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police of Ukraine.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court verdict.