“According to the investigation, the drones were purchased at inflated prices that exceeded market prices by 70–90%”, — write: www.radiosvoboda.org
According to the information of the SAP, they are considered to be involved in the organization and implementation of a criminal scheme of embezzlement of funds during the procurement of drones for the Defense Forces of Ukraine, the actions are qualified under Part 5 of Art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (appropriation, waste of property or taking possession of it by abuse of official position).
“In 2023, after the adoption of changes to the State Budget of Ukraine, the State Special Communications Service allocated 30 billion hryvnias for the purchase of drones. As part of the pre-trial investigation, it was established that the head of one of the departments of the State Special Communications had a plan to waste part of these funds,” the report states.
The law enforcement officers point out that according to this plan, drones were to be supplied by predetermined companies at inflated prices.
“During May-September 2023, the State Special Communications Service purchased 400 DJI Mavic 3 drones and 1,300 Autel Evo Max 4T drones at prices that exceeded market prices by 70-90%. Funds from the sale of these drones were transferred to the accounts of controlled companies,” SAP informs.
According to the investigators, these actions caused losses to the budget of Ukraine in the amount of more than 90 million hryvnias.
The pre-trial investigation in the case is ongoing, comments from the defendants or their defense are currently unavailable.