Ukraine's National Guard colonel jailed over drone and electronic warfare theft scheme
Photo: National Guard colonel taken into custody for drone theft (Getty Images)
A National Guard colonel suspected of embezzlement during drone and electronic warfare procurement has been taken into custody until September 30 by court order, the press service of the High Anti-Corruption Court (VAKS) reports.
According to RBC-Ukraine's sources, the case concerns National Guard Colonel Vasyl Myshanskyi. During the court hearing, he was placed in pre-trial detention until September 30, with the option to post bail set at 2 million hryvnias.
Myshanskyi is suspected of corruption during the procurement of drones and electronic warfare systems. According to the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP), Colonel received 250,000 hryvnias for a contract with an inflated price.
Schemes of enrichment through drones and electronic warfare
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and SAP earlier reported uncovering a large-scale scheme during the procurement of drones and electronic warfare systems.
According to the investigation, one of the military units signed a state contract worth nearly 10 million hryvnias with a company that supplied products at an inflated price - the overpayment amounted to about $80,000. After the delivery was completed, representatives of the company handed over the kickbacks to the participants of the criminal scheme.
Among those involved in the case is the former Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, Serhii Haidai. His dismissal was urgently approved by the government on August 2.
In addition, the case involves a current Member of Parliament from the Servant of the People political party representing the Luhansk region, Oleksii Kuznetsov. His membership in the faction has been suspended for the duration of the investigation. On August 4, the VAKS placed Kuznetsov in custody for 60 days with the possibility of posting 8 million hryvnias in bail.
This morning, August 5, the director of a company involved in the procurement of drones and electronic warfare systems was also placed in custody for 60 days, with bail set at over 2 million hryvnias. According to NABU, the kickbacks under these contracts could reach over 30%.
