NABU and SAPO have established new facts in the State Special Communications Service case concerning the embezzlement of funds during the procurement of drones for Ukraine’s Defence Forces in 2023.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) reported this.
The total amount of damage caused to the state has increased from UAH 90 million to UAH 254 million. Detectives uncovered the involvement of two more companies linked to the previous supplier. In September 2023, State Special Communications Service officials signed additional agreements with these companies to supply DJI Mavic 3T, DJI Mavic 3 Pro and DJI Matrice M30T drones.
According to the Bureau, the equipment was purchased at prices 60–90% above market rates, while the winners of the tenders were predetermined. Evidence of falsification includes the fact that officials sent a request for a commercial offer to a company that was officially registered only several days after the letter had been sent. The participants in the scheme transferred the profits to accounts belonging to companies under their control, including accounts abroad.
Law enforcement authorities have now updated the suspicions against four people previously exposed and also notified the beneficial controller of the private companies of suspicion.
The suspects’ actions were classified as embezzlement of property on an especially large scale through abuse of office.
NABU added that investigators had already blocked more than $4 million in foreign accounts and UAH 17 million in Ukraine. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
- The scheme was exposed in October last year. At the time, two State Special Communications Service officials and two business representatives were charged with suspicion of embezzlement on an especially large scale.