An ex-Defense Ministry official who embezzled $24 million in purchases for the Armed Forces of Ukraine was detained in Ukraine

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has exposed an ex-official of the country's Defense Ministry who squandered UAH 1 billion ($24 million) of budget funds for food purchases for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). This was reported on Friday, August 1, in the Telegram channel of the department.

It is specified that we are talking about the former head of one of the departments of the Ministry of Defense. The investigation found that, while in office, in the spring of 2022, he signed an agreement with a private company for the purchase of wholesale shipments of food and their supplies to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"At the same time, the cost of the products themselves was artificially inflated by 41%, and the price of organizing their delivery increased by 221%," the SBU said in a statement.

The ex-official did not verify the justification of the indicated amounts, which led to budget losses on a particularly large scale.

The detainee is accused of embezzlement of property, the relevant article implies imprisonment of up to 12 years, as well as confiscation of property.

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