The SBI completes investigation against of accomplice of a businessman from Lviv, who caused more than UAH 1 billion of losses to the state

The employees of the SBI have completed the investigation of criminal proceedings against an accomplice of a businessman from Lviv, who organized the supply of low-quality military equipment for the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine worth over 1.16 billion of hryvnias.

The indictment was sent to the court.

Due to the fact that the suspect of the large-scale corruption case is hiding abroad, the case against him was separated into a separate proceeding.

He was a close childhood friend of the businessman from Lviv and his godfather. Currently, according to investigators, he is hiding in Vienna — the Austrian capital.

In February 2024, the court arrested the suspect in absentia. He is currently placed on the international wanted list by Interpol.

It should be reminded, that in late 2023, the State Bureau of Investigation opened criminal proceeding into fraudulent purchases of clothing and underwear for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The companies of the Lviv businessman won 23 tenders to supply to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine the clothing worth more than 1.16 billion of hryvnias.

The businessman from Lviv supervised the deal, involving his son and other people. In 2023, the companies, which were controlled by him, signed contracts with the Ministry of Defense for the supply of military clothing.

On December 29, 2023, employees of the SBI detained the Lviv businessman who offered 500 thousand US dollars to one of the heads of the Main Investigation Department of the SBI. The bribe was offered for assistance in returning property, that was seized from companies controlled by him during the investigation of a criminal proceeding.

On January 17, 2024, the employees of the SBI served notifications of suspicion to a businessman and members of a criminal organization, who had caused one billion hryvnias in losses to the state budget. They were exposed in illegal deals with the purchase of clothing and underwear for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Five members of the organization were served notifications of suspicion of creating and participating in a criminal organization and of fraud committed under martial law.

On January 15, 2025, the indictment in this case was sent to the court.