War / Conflicts

The SBU’s investigation has “revealed officials of the Ministry of Defense and managers of the arms supplier Lviv Arsenal, who stole close to 1.5 billion hryvnias during the procurement of grenades”.

The amount corresponds to almost NOK 420 million.

– According to the investigation, former and current high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Defense and managers of affiliated companies are involved in the corruption, says the SBU’s statement.

The case concerns the purchase of 100,000 grenades for the Ukrainian defence. A contract was signed with Lviv Arsenal in August 2022, six months into the war, and payment was made in advance. Some of the money was transferred abroad. But no ammunition was obtained, and some of the funds were moved to foreign bank accounts, according to the SBU.

Five people linked to the Ministry of Defense and the arms supplier are suspects in the case. One of the suspects was arrested during an attempt to cross the Ukrainian border, according to the SBU.

The information from the SBU is confirmed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence. The case could have consequences for Kyiv’s anti-corruption efforts, as corruption is one of the major issues that must be resolved before Ukraine can have the opportunity to become an EU member.

2024-01-28 00:20:07
#Ukrainian #security #service #uncovers #corruption #arms #procurement

Footage that several Russian media have posted on their accounts in the messaging service Telegram on the night of Tuesday showed powerful explosions and fire in a port area in Feodosia, which is located on the Black Sea coast.

Afterwards, the Russian-deposed governor of Crimea issued a statement saying that Ukraine was behind the attack.

– The harbor area is cordoned off. At the moment, the explosions have stopped and the fire is under control, Sergej Aksionov said at 4.15 am on Tuesday local time.

Later on Tuesday night, the Ukrainian Air Force claimed responsibility for the attack. According to a statement from the Air Force, the Russian Black Sea Fleet landing craft Novotscherkassk was destroyed in the attack.

– Russia’s fleet is getting smaller and smaller, says air force chief Mykola Oleshchuk.

Ukraine has not provided evidence for the claim, and the information has not been verified by the Reuters news agency. Russian authorities had not commented on the Ukrainian claim at 3.30am.

Russia annexed the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula in 2014. During the ongoing war, Ukraine has carried out a number of actions against Russian targets on the Crimean peninsula.

2023-12-26 02:40:00
#Ukraine #claims #responsibility #attack #port #city #Crimea

Footage that several Russian media have posted on their accounts in the messaging service Telegram on the night of Tuesday showed powerful explosions and fire in a port area in Feodosia, which is located on the Black Sea coast.

Afterwards, the Russian-deposed governor of Crimea issued a statement saying that Ukraine was behind the attack.

– The harbor area is cordoned off. At the moment, the explosions have stopped and the fire is under control, Sergej Aksionov said at 4.15 am on Tuesday local time.

Later on Tuesday night, the Ukrainian Air Force claimed responsibility for the attack. According to a statement from the Air Force, the Russian Black Sea Fleet landing craft Novotscherkassk was destroyed in the attack.

– Russia’s fleet is getting smaller and smaller, says air force chief Mykola Oleshchuk.

Ukraine has not provided evidence for the claim, and the information has not been verified by the Reuters news agency. Russian authorities had not commented on the Ukrainian claim at 3.30am.

Russia annexed the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula in 2014. During the ongoing war, Ukraine has carried out a number of actions against Russian targets on the Crimean peninsula.

2023-12-26 01:19:48
#Ukraine #claims #responsibility #attack #port #city #Crimea