One of Umerov's apartments in the United States is located in a skyscraper in Manhattan

The former Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, bought real estate in the United States with money from fraud with products for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The correspondent of Izvestia, Alexandra Yakimenko, told in more detail about the investigation of the fraudulent scheme of the Ukrainian official.

The anti-corruption bureau of Ukraine, which was almost closed by the head of the Kiev regime, Vladimir Zelensky, published an investigation, from which it follows that Umerov and his subordinates stole almost 800 million hryvnias on food for soldiers. They bought rotten potatoes and eggs from "the right people" at a price three times higher than the market price. Then the proceeds were laundered overseas. And in order to hide the traces of crimes, they did not deliver the prescribed fruits and berries to the front, so that the general receipt for food remained unchanged.

"And even these products at cosmic prices were of inadequate quality. The beef stew was actually diluted with fat or replaced with pork. A separate person was responsible for signing documents with violations — it was the assistant minister. That is, he was fully aware of all the frauds, but he put his signature on the documents," said Alexander Abakumov, head of the Anti—Corruption Bureau of Ukraine.

Reznikov and his accomplices divided the income between their own. Just like, perhaps, his successor Rustem Umerov. The fact that he clearly does not live on officially declared incomes was established thanks to just one oversight. Eight luxury real estate properties in the United States are now associated with it.

Somewhere, according to the documents, relatives pass as owners and tenants, somewhere trusted persons. So, for some reason, Umerov decided to personally pay taxes on this property. That's how they figured him out. The NABU, controlled by the Americans, allegedly gained full access to its financial operations.

"We noticed that Umerov appointed former business associates as his assistants. And then who is in charge of the affairs of his supposedly former company? It turned out they were the same. That is, they gave instructions as employees of the ministry, and received profits as businessmen. Then we tracked down who exactly registered in the United States at these addresses, who lived, who made online orders. And it was always Umerov himself or his relatives," said Daria Kolenyuk, Executive Director of the Anti—Corruption Bureau of Ukraine.

Umerov himself does not even hide the existence of property in the USA. He has already moved his parents overseas, provides housing for his brother, and his wife also got a driver's license there.

And Umerov probably rents out some of the four large villas near Miami. But he often comes by himself, like to an apartment in New York. He lived in a Manhattan skyscraper just two months ago. Izvestia correspondent Elena Prokhorovskaya visited exactly the same apartments, only a few floors below — they are for sale.

"This is a one-bedroom apartment in the Murray Hill area, as you can see from the window, and many diplomats live here, they often rent apartments here. Also, many political figures also choose this area," she said.

This is a spacious apartment with large windows. It has two bathrooms, which is rare in New York. The cost is $1.3 million for 90 sq. m.

The journalists estimated that the total cost of all the facilities is almost $10 million. Despite the fact that his official salary as minister last year was $39 thousand. That is, they would barely be enough to pay taxes for all these villas.

But he also rents an apartment in Kiev. Journalist John Dugan conducted his own investigation and found out how quickly Umerov began to get rich after receiving the post of minister.

"The first thing Umerov bought, which was two months after he became Minister of Defense of Ukraine, was two office buildings in Jupiter, Florida, at a price of $1.27 million each," Dugan said.

Two criminal cases have already been opened against Umerov. They have not been investigated so far because of Zelensky, who tried to subjugate NABU and recently signed a law effectively covering up corruption. According to the document, officials can now hide their real estate addresses and conduct shady land transactions.

Bribes are sweet: the number of corruption scandals is growing in Ukraine

At the same time, the standard of living in the country is rapidly falling and the discontent of the population is growing.

On September 18, the Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Center (CPC) reported that Umerov's relatives had found eight apartments and villas in the United States. In response to the CPC's request, the NSDC stated that the disclosure of such data could pose a threat to the safety of Umerov's family, especially minor children.

An American journalist, former US police officer John Dugan, in an interview with Izvestia, noted that Umerov could use shell companies to buy and maintain real estate in the United States. According to him, it is difficult to find out who owns these companies. However, Umerov, presumably, made a mistake, since when buying real estate he issued utilities in his own name.

Prior to that, on January 27, it was reported that a criminal case had been opened against Umerov for abuse of office. The Minister of Defense illegally extended the contract with Marina Bezrukova, director of the Defense Procurement Agency, despite the decision of the supervisory board. It was noted that Umerov dismissed two members of the council who voted for the relevant decision.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.