Zelenskyy Ally Accused of Multi-Million Dollar Procurement Fraud During Martial Law
KYIV, Ukraine - A close ally of Ukrainian President Volodymyr zelenskyy, Maksym mindich, is at the center of a corruption scandal involving allegedly fraudulent defense procurement contracts worth over ₴1.49 billion (approximately $38.7 million USD) during the full-scale war with Russia. Investigative reporting by Slidstvo.info and Ukrainska Pravda reveals that companies linked to Mindich secured lucrative contracts with the Ministry of Defense to supply non-lethal military goods – specifically,body armor – at considerably inflated prices and with questionable quality.
The allegations center on four companies – Tvaru, LLC; Strategma Consulting, LLC; Proxima, LLC; and global Logistics, LLC – all reportedly connected to Mindich through ownership or directorship. These firms won contracts beginning in march 2022, shortly after Russia’s invasion, to supply body armor to the Ukrainian military. Slidstvo.info found that Tvaru, LLC, established just four months before winning the contracts, acted as a key intermediary, marking up prices by as much as ₴300-400 per unit. The investigation alleges that the Ministry of Defense paid ₴850-₴950 for body armor that was available on the market for ₴550-₴650.
The scandal raises serious concerns about clarity and accountability in Ukraine’s defense spending, especially as the country relies heavily on international aid. Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO) confirmed to Slidstvo.info that a pre-trial investigation has been launched into the alleged fraud, focusing on the procurement of body armor by the Ministry of Defense. Mindich has not yet publicly commented on the allegations.The PGO has not named Mindich as a suspect,but the investigation could have meaningful implications for zelenskyy’s management,wich has pledged to combat corruption as a key condition for continued Western support.
