In Ukraine, dealers who blackmailed a foreign company producing electronic warfare equipment were exposed

In Ukraine, dealers who blackmailed a foreign company producing electronic warfare equipment were exposed

The SSU detained two individuals in Kyiv who could have interfered with the free supply of electronic warfare (EW) equipment to Ukraine.

This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine, Office of the Prosecutor General

According to the investigation, these individuals began to blackmail a foreign EW equipment manufacturing company.

This company had already provided Ukraine with 5 specialized complexes. For our country, they were free of charge, as international partners covered the costs.

It is reported that if these tools were successfully used in combat conditions, the partner country intended to increase defence orders from its manufacturer. Accordingly, the company was interested in new contracts.

"When the criminals learned about this, they started demanding a bribe from representatives of the foreign company. In exchange for 200,000 US dollars, they promised to negotiate with ’their contacts’ for positive evaluations of these products."

SSU employees uncovered the criminal scheme in a timely manner and detained both individuals after the entire bribe amount was handed over in Kyiv.

Based on the collected evidence, SSU investigators notified the detainees of suspicion under the following articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 114-1 (obstruction of lawful activities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and other military formations, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons); Part 2 of Article 28, Part 3 of Article 369-2 (accepting an offer, promise, or receipt of unlawful benefits for oneself or a third party for influencing the decision of a person authorized to perform state functions, combined with extortion of such benefits, committed by prior conspiracy by a group of persons).

The criminals face up to 8 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

Comprehensive measures were carried out under the procedural guidance of the Specialized Defence Prosecutor’s Office.

As specified by the Office of the Prosecutor General, the suspects assured the manufacturer’s representatives that they had influential connections in the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and, for 200,000 US dollars, would help avoid obstacles during EW testing.