Former RKIK chief says minister introduced him to Datasel intermediary
In Estonia, former director of the RKIK Centre for Defence Investments Magnus-Valdemar Saar said that contact with an intermediary for Datasel regarding the purchase of shells for Ukraine was allegedly arranged by Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur. Pevkur and Erik Malmsted, linked to the American company Oculus Strategic Solutions, denied this account, ERR News reports.
Saar headed RKIK from 2021 until the summer of 2024, during the period when Estonia promoted the “One Million Shells for Ukraine” initiative. According to him, during that time, under crisis conditions, the agency secured ammunition supplies to Ukraine with a total value of nearly €500 million. He also said that he acted on the minister’s instructions, and that the minister was informed about the deals and the risks associated with them.
Statements by the former head of RKIK
According to Saar’s account, procurement proposals came to RKIK from the institution’s contract partners, the leadership of the Ministry of Defence, or Ukraine. The agency checked export controls, logistics, the condition of the goods, and other risks. The decision to conclude a specific deal, he said, was made at a ministerial meeting, records of which were kept.
Saar claims that Pevkur introduced him to a person who intermediated the contact with Datasel. He showed journalists an exchange of messages with the alleged intermediary, who identified himself as “Erik M.” The former RKIK director also said that he has extracts from email correspondence, while the full materials may remain in his former official mailbox, which he no longer has access to.
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Denials by Pevkur and Malmsted
Pevkur said that until the day of his conversation with journalists, he had had no email correspondence, message exchanges, or telephone conversations with Erik Malmsted. Malmsted said that he first contacted Saar in December 2023: on December 4, he sent an email regarding an initial meeting scheduled for December 6. According to him, RKIK’s head of armaments category, Ramil Lipp, was also copied into the correspondence.
Malmsted claims that he initially wrote to a general address in Estonia’s defence sector but received no response, and found Saar’s contact details in open sources. He also said that he had previously tried to contact Pevkur unsuccessfully. According to Malmsted, Oculus Strategic Solutions planned to act as an intermediary between Datasel and RKIK, but Saar concluded a direct contract with Datasel without the company’s involvement.
Estonia transferred a €60 million advance payment for shells for Ukraine, but the delivered goods did not meet the requirements. The dispute over this deal is currently being considered in court.
