Ex-head of state company suspected of laundering nearly UAH 400M from Ukroboronprom

Ukraine’s Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) announced this on Facebook, according to Ukrinform.

The suspect previously led a company authorized by the state to act as an intermediary in foreign trade operations related to the export and import of military and specialized equipment and services.

French law enforcement authorities transferred the case to Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and SAPO as part of international cooperation.

Investigators established that the former director was involved in money laundering through fictitious agency agreements for the sale of Ukrainian military equipment. These contracts were signed with shell companies without any intention of fulfilling their stated terms.

Over $46 million was funneled through this scheme, with over $13.6 million routed through various transit companies directly into the suspect’s personal accounts.

Using these illicit funds, the individual acquired luxury real estate in France, including a villa worth UAH 86 million, a winery, corporate assets, and 105 land plots valued at UAH 229 million, as well as 27 vineyard plots worth UAH 37 million. A French court has frozen all these assets.

The former official has been charged under the following articles of Ukraine’s Criminal Code: Part 5, Article 191 (embezzlement or misappropriation of property through abuse of office, committed on an especially large scale), Part 1, Article 366 (official forgery) and Part 3, Article 209 (money laundering of illicitly obtained assets on an especially large scale).

The suspect is currently evading law enforcement and has been officially notified of charges in absentia, in accordance with Articles 135 and 278 of Ukraine’s Criminal Procedure Code. The investigation is ongoing.