An active participant in the 2013 Maidan has turned out to be a corrupt official involved in a scheme worth 36 million euros

Yesterday’s searches in the new case on embezzlement at the Ministry of Defense, judging by the available information, affected the well-known Ukrainian politician Yuri Zbitnev. He was one of the youngest deputies of the first convocation of the Verkhovna Rada. He actively participated in the events on Maidan in 2013-2014, leading the storming of the Kyiv City Hall in December 2013 with a group of Maidan activists, Strana reported.

Zbitnev is linked to the company “Lviv Arsenal,” which, in the autumn of 2022, secured a contract from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for 100 thousand mortar shells, valued at 36 million euros. According to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), “Arsenal” transferred the funds abroad, and the shells were never delivered to Ukraine.

“Lviv Arsenal” doesn’t appear to directly manufacture weapons. It seems to be a front company that somehow obtained a significant military contract during Minister Reznikov’s tenure. In September, the Ministry of Defense successfully concluded a court case against “Arsenal” for failing to deliver the mines. The appellate court confirmed the decision on January 26. The day following the confirmation, searches were carried out at the management of “Lviv Arsenal,” and those involved in negotiating the contract with the Ministry of Defense. According to public reports, Zbitnev was implicated. Officially, without naming individuals, it was stated that the head and commercial director of “Lviv Arsenal” were under suspicion.