The SSU, together with the Prosecutor General’s Office and in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, prevented embezzlement of state funds allocated for purchase of artillery shells for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

As a result of the operation, almost UAH 1.5 bln (USD 39 mln) were returned to the state budget after they had been illegally transferred abroad during purchase of a wholesale batch of ammunition.

The SSU Military Counterintelligence uncovered this scheme in December 2023. Then, with the assistance of the Ministry of Defense, its organizer – a directorate head in the MoD – was detained.

The investigation revealed that the official had tried to misappropriate budget funds allocated for state military orders.

The perpetrator organized a transfer of almost UAH 1.5 billion from the Ministry of Defense balance sheet to foreign accounts of an affiliated intermediary company to buy artillery shells.

This amount was 30% higher than the value of an alternative contract concluded by the newly created Defense Procurement Agency.

SSU investigators have served the official a notice of suspicion under Articles of the CCU 28.2 and 114-1.2 (obstruction of lawful activities of the AFU and other military formations, committed upon prior conspiracy).

The investigation is underway. The persons involved face up to 15 years in prison.

The operation was conducted under the procedural supervision of the Specialized Defense Prosecutor’s Office of the Prosecutor General's Office.