The SBU exposed a scheme of illegal import of three Soviet-made surface-to-air missile systems to Ukraine for over UAH 110 million (USD 3,859,600).

Allegedly, representatives of a domestic commercial enterprise in the defense industry organized an illegal scheme of importing weapons without paying mandatory payments to the state budget. The suspects illegally applied the preference of importing goods, ostensibly for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

To this end, the suspects entered false data into the customs declaration during the customs clearance of the goods. For the illegal transportation of goods across the state border, the dealers used reference details of a presumably dummy affiliated company, registered in a European country.

The scheme caused budget losses amounting to more than UAH 20 million (USD 701,700).

These surface-to-air missile systems did not reach the Ukrainian army. The suspects stored them on the territory of a logistics base of the enterprise in Kyiv region. Reportedly, some of the illegally imported weapons were re-exported abroad.

During the searches of the offices, industrial and warehouse premises, as well as at the suspects’ residences, the law enforcement officers seized documents, computer equipment, electronic media and other items confirming the illegal activities.

Within the criminal proceedings initiated upon the fact of smuggling and evasion of taxes, duties or other compulsory payments, the investigation is ongoing. All circumstances of the crime are being established to bring the dealers to justice.

The detected weapons were seized.