SSU detains management of defense plant that supplied defective mines to the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Photo: SBU

The Security Service of Ukraine has detained the management of a defense plant in Dnipropetrovs'k region that supplied defective mortar shells to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was reported by the SSU press center.

Among the detainees are the plant's general director, his deputy, the former head of one of the Defense Ministry's military missions, and the head of the control group of the relevant unit.

All four detainees were notified of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces and other military formations, committed by a group of persons, which led to grave consequences).

Detainees face up to 15 years in prison.

According to the investigation, in early 2024, the plant's management entered into an agreement with the Defense Procurement Agency to manufacture ammunition for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The company was to supply the troops with wholesale batches of 120 mortar rounds.

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However, for the mass production of shells, the plant used low-quality materials and performed defective work.

"Military officials deliberately 'turned a blind eye' to the defective batch of ammunition and entered false information into the reporting documentation," the SSU said.

As a result, 120,000 unusable mines got to the frontline, which was confirmed by the conclusions of a professional examination.

  • The scandal over defective 120-caliber mines broke out in the fall of 2024. These mines were manufactured by Ukroboronprom, a joint-stock company under the Ministry of Strategic Industries, at the request of the Ministry of Defense. on November 26, the Ministry of Defense announced that it was investigating the causes of the malfunction of the 120-mm mines. The State Bureau of Investigation opened a criminal investigation..
  • On November 28, the Ministry of Strategic Industries reported that about 24,000 of the 54,000 suspected mines are to be returned.
Security Service of Ukrainemortar shells