The SBU CI officers prevented possible illegal export of military goods subject to state export control.

It was established that the illegal activity was organized by a former employee of one of the domestic defense plants. He involved several friends from Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions in the deal.

The accomplices set up a mechanism for the appropriation of military property, including components for short-range and long-range air defense missile systems, as well as design documentation for these types of weapons.

Law enforcement officers exposed one of the members of the group while transporting 6 military devices to the capital.

During searches of offenders’ places of residence, the law enforcement found:

• documents confirming illegal activity;
• components for air defense missile armament.

The seized items were sent for examination.

SBU investigators have initiated criminal proceedings under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 1 of Art. 111 (High treason),
• Part 2 of Art. 333 (Violation of procedure of international transfers of goods subject to state export control),
• Part 3 of Art. 410 (Stealing, appropriation, extortion or fraudulent obtaining of weapons, ammunitions, explosive or other warfare substances, vehicles, military or special enginery or other munitions, by a military serviceman).

A pre-trial investigation is underway to establish all the circumstances of the offense and bring to justice those involved.

Measures to expose illegal activities were carried out by officers of the SBU Office in Zhytomyr region under the procedural guidance of the Zhytomyr Specialized Prosecutor's Office in the Military and Defense Spheres of the Central Region.