Kyiv tank factory denies making money on obsolete spare parts for combat vehicles
Investigation reporters found out that the parts did not match the technical requirements; the defense industry company rebukes this information
15:49, 25 June 2019
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Ukraine's state enterprise Kyiv Tank Factory denied the information about using the obsolete spare parts for combat vehicles, posing them as new ones. The company's press office reported this June 25.
Investigation reporters from NashiGroshi program found out that the parts did not match the technical requirements and were soled by raised prices; the defense industry company rebuked this information. Kyiv Tank Factory stressed that all purchased spare parts are actually new, never used before. The equipment was tested and approved by the examination commission of the Defense Ministry; some of the parts have been set on the vehicles already.
Recently, Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) suspected Kyiv Tank Factory in embezzling and pocketing costs during the purchase of spare parts and repair works on these parts. The amount of money embezzled is claimed to be about 350,000 U.S. dollars. Pechersk district court issued the respective decision.
In 2018, the Defense Ministry of Ukraine made an order for Kyiv Tank Factory, requesting new BTR-3DA infantry fighting vehicles for the Armed Forces.
Related: Kyiv tank factory charged with embezzling USD 350,000
Kyiv Tank Factory made a deal with the Partset company, which was worth 350,000 U.S. dollars; in order to mask the real technical conditions of the obsolete parts, workers of the factory repaired and refreshed the previously used parts. In July 2018, Partset supplied some spare parts to Kyiv Tank Factory, which included the obsolete ones.
This month, the State Bureau of Investigation searched the office of Kyiv Tank Factory, which was due to the decision of the court. During the checks, the agents revealed some of the spare parts that Kyiv Tank Factory bought from Partset company. The investigation confirmed that the parts were of poor quality and unknown origins. The seized parts were arrested.
Related: Ukrainian plant to produce tracks for infantry fighting vehicles instead of their import
corruption in Ukraine investigation journalism Ukraine's defense industry combat vehicles