Ukraine lost over $ 770 million in unsuccessful purchases of weapons, “the Financial Times revealed, pointing out that many of the ordered equipment never arrived. This is a significant blow to the Kiev budget, which has already spent 6 to $ 8 billion on armament.
The investigation by “FT” journalists revealed that in a few cases the Ukrainian side paid large advances to little -known companies for equipment, which has not arrived today. The newspaper learned from officials in Kiev that weapons were bought at significantly inflated prices, when just after the full -size explosion wars in Ukraine In 2022, demand increased in the world. Many ordered supplies of weapons and ammunition reached the country in an unusable state.
The Ukrainian side paid large advances to little -known companies for equipment, which has not yet arrivedfacebook.com/Genealstaff.ua
According to Ukrainian court documents, which “FT” reached, in April 2022, the Ukrainian state intermediary in the turnover of weapons bought from Sudan 120 mm caliber mortars. During the investigation, it was established that sellers had close connections with the Russian FSB, as well as with the Wagner Group Jewgenija Prigożyna, whose mercenaries took part in fighting against Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukraine, the army near the city of Czasiw JaPAP/EPA
– Defenders are defenders with death – said in an interview with “FT” former Ukrainian defense minister Oleksij Reznikow. – They are absolutely pragmatic and cynical. They have no idea about justice. (…) They say: 'I have it in my warehouse. You want, buy it. You don't want to sell your enemy, 'he added.
Traders earned in Ukraine
The daily said that in the first week of the Russian invasion Ukraine She had ammunition reserves that allow her to defend herself for just two months. According to Reznikow, in 2022 the annual production of missiles matching the Ukrainian artillery of Soviet production was about 600,000 throughout Europe, which was enough for a month of fighting. This is only a third of 1.8 million shells that Russia She fired every month then – he emphasized.
In the first week of the Russian invasion, Ukraine had ammunition supplies to defend itself for just two monthsShutterstock
“FT” pointed out that many foreign defenders, primarily with USA And Europe, in desperation of Ukraine, saw a great chance for themselves. Referring to numerous sources, the newspaper said that in the first half of 2022 ammunition prices for Soviet weapons increased four times.
The former Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense responsible for foreign contracts Denys Sharapow said “FT” that he was flooded with offers for the purchase of weapons and ammunition from small and new players on the market who wanted to earn on the conflict. – During a year and a half of work, he received about 25,000 Weapons offers – he added.
Thousands of weapons offers for the Ukrainian armyTerritorial defense forces Południe/Facebook
Unsuccessful reinforcement and time pressure
Reznikow argued that all unsuccessful transactions for weapon supplies resulted from the urgent need to armament of Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the front in the early stages of the war.
– During the war there is one criterion of effectiveness: you provide a lot of weapons to the front and quickly pass it on to the armed forces – said the former minister, adding that his ministry did not have time to analyze differences in the price. – On the front line you have people who die without missiles, and you must provide them with bullets every day and every night – he emphasized.
Ukraine lost at least $ 770 million. on unsuccessful arms transactionsGeneral Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces/Facebook
As “FT” found out, the Ukrainian law enforcement agencies examine dozens of contracts signed with foreign arms intermediaries, and in some cases they initiated criminal proceedings against former Ukrainian public procurement officials. It was noted that almost none of these cases had ended with charges.
Source of the main photo: Shutterstock