The SBU is investigating the purchase of 1980s-era grenade launchers that were passed off as new to the Ukrainian Armed Forces
The Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General are investigating the procurement of RPG-75M single-use anti-tank grenade launchers for the Defense Forces. As part of the case, law enforcement officials conducted 13 searches at the offices of the state procurement agency, the supplier company, and the residences of those involved.
According to the investigation, the state-owned “Defense Procurement Agency” signed a contract to supply 6,000 grenade launchers with a total value of 637 million hryvnias. Under the terms of the contract, the weapons were to be new—manufactured between 2024 and 2026.
However, after the first batch arrived, the military refused to accept it for service due to suspicions that the products did not meet specifications. During an inspection, law enforcement officials discovered signs of relabeling: old Czech markings were found beneath the new labels, and the components, according to the SBU, were manufactured between 1986 and 1988.
Investigators believe that those involved in the scheme may have concealed the actual year of manufacture, technical condition, and origin of the grenade launchers by using forged documents and altered markings. A possible conspiracy between officials of the state procurement agency and the supplier company is also being investigated.
Law enforcement estimates that the state’s losses amount to 318.5 million hryvnias—the amount of the advance payment made for weapons that the Armed Forces of Ukraine never actually accepted.
Source: SBU, Office of the Prosecutor General.
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