Defence Ministry responds to journalistic investigation into three times inflated prices for uniforms for the Armed Forces
The Ministry says it is not involved in such transactions and there is no corruption in them
The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has stated that it did not purchase uniforms for the Armed Forces' logistics unit, which was investigated by ZN.ua and found to be purchased at three times the price.
Earlier, the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office and the specialized defence prosecutor's office of the Central Region served a notice of suspicion to the director of a private firm of misappropriation of funds allocated for the purchase of uniforms for military personnel of the Territorial Defence Forces.
According to the investigation, in 2022, the military unit and the garment factory signed contracts for the supply of uniforms for military personnel.
The Ministry of Defence emphasizes that the ministry's units were not involved in this procurement process: determining the need, searching for a contractor, concluding a contract, and monitoring the implementation of technical specifications.
"For our part, we emphasize that the Ministry has zero tolerance for corruption. In all cases of anti-corruption actions by law enforcement agencies, the Ministry of Defence provides comprehensive assistance to pre-trial investigations and conducts relevant internal checks," the ministry said.
Background. As it became known, journalists found that the agency purchased 4,900 jackets worth $142,000 from a Turkish manufacturer. However, later in the documents, the cost was increased to $421,000, and the camouflage jackets were changed to winter "air protection" jackets. Thus, the price per piece increased from $29 to $86.
At the same time, the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise found that the supplied jackets and pants could not be used for their intended purpose. At the same time, the winter clothing that was sent to Ukraine under another contract still cost $27,500 per batch in Moldova, and $367,500 in Ukraine.
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