In Zhytomyr region, the Security Service of Ukraine and the State Bureau of Investigations have uncovered a concern, which, despite russia’s full-scale invasion, continued to do business with the aggressor state and has been selling metal products to russians for military fortifications.

The company supplied several batches of such products to russia worth over USD 1.5 mln in 2022 alone.

The russian customers used the purchased goods to build barrier systems around the perimeters of military installations in russia and in the temporarily occupied part of Ukraine.

According to the investigation, the illegal exports were carried out under the so-called ‘interrupted transit’ scheme.

In other words, the manufacturer’s products were first shipped to a European country, supposedly for the foreign affiliated firm.

However, after receiving the products, the foreign entity shipped them to russia under the brand name of another involved company from the Middle East.

The final recipients of Ukrainian imports were russian companies serving the needs of the aggressor’s occupation troops.

During the searches of the suspects’ offices and homes, as well as the warehouses of the production plant, the SSU found computer equipment and mobile phones with evidence of the crime.

The perpetrators have been notified of suspicion under Articles 28.3, 111-2.1 of the CCU (aiding the aggressor state, committed by an organized group).

The investigation is ongoing. The suspects face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.