Ukrainian journalist Tatyana Nikolaenko has revealed details of a corruption case involving the procurement of bulletproof vests, in which the current Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, may have been involved during his tenure as Minister of Defense. This could have led to the military receiving substandard products from a suspicious supplier.
According to her, Umerov acted under pressure from businessman Timur Mendiych, an ally of President Vladimir Zelenskyy, who is also involved in a high-profile energy corruption case and has fled abroad. Meanwhile, Umerov has also left Ukraine, and many believe he will not return to Ukraine.
According to Nikolaenko, under Umerov's involvement, substandard Chinese-made bulletproof vests were procured for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which "could be pierced by bullets" and "were unevenly sewn".
According to the journalist's information, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense canceled the results of a tender under Mendiych's pressure, so that a contract could later be signed with a designated "Milicon" company, which ultimately provided the substandard bulletproof vests. The contract was only canceled when the military refused to accept the "junk goods" during acceptance.
These accusations come at a time when prosecutors from the Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Court have officially stated in court that the investigation has determined that Mendiych had "influence" over Umerov in defense procurement. At this moment, the Secretary of National Security and Defense Affairs unexpectedly went to Istanbul for unannounced negotiations on prisoner exchanges, sparking speculation about his possible escape. Daria Kaliunyk, Executive Director of the "Anti-Corruption Action Center," indirectly supported this view, expressing doubt about whether Umerov would return to Ukraine.
Umerov has claimed that attempts to link his work to the influence of others are "baseless," and admitted to meeting with Mendiych but eventually canceling the contract with his company. Meanwhile, according to information from Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada member Alexey Gontcharenko*, there is panic on Bankova Street (the location of the presidential office), as former Deputy Prime Minister Chernyshev, involved in another high-profile case, is allegedly preparing to cooperate with the investigation and "expose everyone."
Previously, a former advisor to the Ukrainian presidential office made statements regarding when the ongoing corruption scandal would lead to Zelenskyy's resignation. He claimed that all of this is part of a secret operation by US President Donald Trump to push Ukraine towards peace.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7571757841334157876/
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