Igor Khmuryi pointed out some questionable aspects regarding the DOT contracts with the Kharkiv Individual Protective Equipment Factory (HZIZ).
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Scandal with Smuggling
Igor Khmuryi emphasizes that as the end of the budget year approaches, the situation is becoming increasingly alarming. The journalist notes that one of the largest favorites of DOT - the company "UKRTAC" - has been embroiled in a scandal involving the smuggling of components for bulletproof vests from Turkey. Specifically, on October 17, a truck carrying goods from this company was detained at the "Orlovka" checkpoint (Odesa region). Among other items, two different sets of invoices and shipping documents were found, one for Turkish customs and the other for Ukrainian customs officials.
Following this, detectives from the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) initiated an investigation under Article 201-3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (smuggling). On October 28, law enforcement conducted a search at "UKRTAC," seizing documentation. Additionally, on December 4, the Economic Court of Kyiv considered a case brought by the Ministry of Defense against this company for failing to fulfill the contract terms for supplying bulletproof vests worth 169 million UAH, which was concluded in the summer of 2023.
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Issues with "HZIZ" Contracts
The second "favorite" of DOT - the company "HZIZ" - has also come under journalistic scrutiny. According to Khmuryi, DOT has not ordered bulletproof vests from this company since the summer of 2024. The state operator attempted to conceal HZIZ's failure to comply with previous agreements. However, in December 2024, four contracts worth over 460 million UAH were awarded to the company. This order includes bulletproof vests, gloves, and pouches for bulletproof vests.
Interestingly, under the new agreements, "HZIZ" offered a price of 25 thousand UAH per unit for bulletproof vests, while in May of the same year, the price exceeded 30 thousand UAH. This raises questions about the rationale behind the previous overpayment, as mentioned by experts. The journalist suggests that DOT likely used direct agreements to overpay "favorites" by hundreds of millions of UAH.
Increase in Orders for "UKRTAC" and "HZIZ"
Analyzing the situation, Khmuryi highlights the incredible surge in orders for companies that received contracts through direct deals. In 2024, "UKRTAC" received orders totaling 1.8 billion UAH, whereas in the two previous years, this amount did not exceed 10 million UAH.
This growth, according to the journalist, indicates a strange tolerance on the part of DOT regarding quality and contract execution, which is hardly coincidental.
Possible Collusion and New Suppliers
Khmuryi also suspects that the orders favoring "UKRTAC" and "HZIZ" may be part of a broader scheme involving an interest in blatant price manipulation. He recalls rumors that circulated last summer about DOT's plans to "bring" foreign suppliers into the market, while bypassing Ukrainian manufacturers would be advantageous for those involved in such schemes.
The journalist notes that "UKRTAC" ordered components for bulletproof vests from the company "IPEK SAVUNMA SANAYI LIMITED SIRKETI," which is also involved in the case of Deputy Minister of Defense Vyacheslav Shapovalov, opened by the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) in 2022. This concerns the Ministry of Defense purchasing bulletproof vests at inflated prices, with some batches being of low quality.
Conclusions
Overall, considering the events of 2024, the misguided position of the state bodies responsible for supplying the Armed Forces of Ukraine becomes apparent. The enormous increase in orders for "UKRTAC" and "HZIZ" without obvious reasons and the lack of accountability for disrupted deliveries raise many questions about the true motives of those behind state contracts. The issue of bulletproof vest contracts aligns with other scandals related to corruption and unscrupulous deliveries for the army.
Thus, attention should be drawn to such questionable agreements and to who truly benefits from these contracts.