The SSU has shut down another shadow scheme of selling Ukrainian goods to military industry of the aggressor state.

A resident of Sumy region, owner of a local enterprise producing electrical equipment for various types of vehicles, is involved in organizing the scheme. His accomplice is a former business partner who lived in Kyiv and was registered as an internally displaced person from Luhansk.

The dealers set up mass production of starters for diesel engines for the russian railway.

The finished products were taken in small batches to russia, bypassing border checkpoints.

In the aggressor state, the offenders were met by their russian partners, who paid for the goods and transported them to the ‘russian railway’ enterprises, in particular in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

One starter cost USD 850. However, the dealers sold the items to russians at twice the price as the sanctions have led to an acute shortage of such components in russia.

Further, the enemy used the spare parts to repair locomotives used to transport russian troops from the Ukrainian Crimea to the southern front.

The SSU detained both suspects on an attempt to smuggle a new batch of 50 starters to russia.

During the searches at the production facilities and at the suspects’ homes, the SSU found:

• mobile phones, computers, financial, economic and technical documentation with evidence of the crime;
• an F-1 grenade with a fuse.

The SSU has notified the entrepreneurs of suspicion under Articles 28.2 and 111-2.1 of the CCU (aiding the aggressor state, committed by a group of persons upon prior conspiracy).

Both suspects are in custody, facing up to 12 years in prison. The investigation is ongoing.

The SSU Office in Sumy region carried out the operation under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.