The State Bureau of Investigations caught a Lviv businessman giving a bribe of $500,000, who was ‘dressing up’ the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Employees of the State Bureau of Investigations of Ukraine have detained a Lviv-based businessman, one of the largest suppliers to the Ministry of Defense, who allegedly offered $500,000 to one of the heads of the Main Investigation Department of the State Bureau of Investigations.

This information was reported by the press service of the State Bureau of Investigations.

Several months ago, the Bureau initiated a criminal investigation into deals involving the procurement of clothing and linen for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The companies of the Lviv businessman won 23 tenders to supply clothing to the Ministry of Defense for a total amount exceeding 1.5 billion hryvnias.

During the investigation, it was established that the businessman’s controlled enterprises were engaged in fulfilling defense orders. However, these companies had previously been involved in construction and lacked proper production, storage, and other facilities for manufacturing and storing clothing items for the needs of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. This led to an estimated budget damage of 1.2 billion hryvnias and subsequent disruptions in supplies.

Law enforcement officers discovered the complete non-fulfillment of 6 contracts. In at least 7 agreements, the companies delivered goods to military unit warehouses in small quantities but received state funds for fully fulfilling their obligations.

It was also found that 8 contracts were fulfilled with delays ranging from 3 to 5 months. An analysis of the foreign economic contacts and customs documents of these enterprises revealed instances of overpricing for the goods supplied to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The involvement of former officials of the Ministry of Defense, who did not take any legal action to ensure the fulfillment or termination of contracts, is being investigated.

According to preliminary estimates, the damage amount may exceed 1 billion hryvnias. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The issue of informing the suspect about the suspicion under Part 3 of Article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (offering, promising, or giving undue advantage to a public official) and the selection of a preventive measure in the form of detention is being considered.

The sanction of the article provides for a punishment of imprisonment for up to eight years.

Recall that in early 2023, the family construction alliance of the Grinkevich family broke into the procurement of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. However, they barged in not for tenders to supply building materials but for supplies of clothing for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In January-February 2023, three Grinkevich companies, without having any clothing production facilities, sewing machines, or specialists, signed 23 contracts with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for a total amount of 1.54 billion hryvnias for the supply of summer clothing and linen.