Fake protection for the front line: how the Ministry of Defense obtained ballistic goggles that could not withstand a shot
18 February 16:32
Another scheme involving the embezzlement of funds related to defense procurement during the war has been uncovered in Ukraine. According to the investigation, the director of a private company organized the supply of substandard ballistic goggles to the defense forces, passing them off as products from a German manufacturer.
This was reported by Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Contract for 100,000 units
According to the prosecutor general, the company provided a certificate of conformity from the German manufacturer, which formally allowed it to meet the terms of the purchase. In April 2023, this made it possible to conclude a state contract with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for the supply of 100,000 ballistic goggles.
The products were delivered and officially accepted. The accompanying documents, including test materials, did not raise any objections and met the stated requirements.
What customs found out
Doubts about the origin of the goods arose later. According to operational information from customs authorities, only 2,000 units of such products were imported into Ukraine from the official foreign manufacturer.
The origin of the remaining 98,000 mask glasses has not yet been established. At the same time, as Kravchenko noted, the entire batch was delivered under the guise of original German products.
Tests that the glasses failed
The results of comprehensive forensic examinations became key evidence. The selected samples:
- did not meet quality requirements;
- did not provide protection against ballistic and mechanical debris;
- were shot through during testing, while the original products were designed to withstand such impact.
Experts emphasize that in combat conditions, such personal protective equipment can directly affect the lives of military personnel.
Damages and suspicion
The director of the enterprise has been notified of suspicion of embezzlement of property on a particularly large scale under martial law.
The amount of damage caused to the state, according to the investigation, is estimated at UAH 154.8 million.
The suspect is abroad, and law enforcement agencies are preparing procedures to put him on the wanted list.
Not an isolated case
The Prosecutor General reported that the suspect left Ukraine immediately after the head of another commercial enterprise was charged with a similar scheme in January this year. According to the investigation, both companies are controlled by the same person.
The previous episode involved the supply of:
- over 40,000 ballistic goggles and goggles-masks;
- worth almost UAH 60 million.
The suspect has already been placed on an international wanted list.
Cases involving defense procurement remain among the most sensitive during wartime. They combine several risks at once:
- loss of budget funds;
- undermining confidence in the army’s supply system;
- a direct threat to the safety of soldiers on the front lines.
Earlier, law enforcement agencies also reported exposing corruption schemes in the rear structures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in particular regarding purchases at inflated prices.
