The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has appointed Rostyslav Zamlynskyi as the First Deputy Head of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection. The decision was made during a government meeting on 22 November, according to ZN.ua.
Zamlynskyi previously served as Deputy Minister of Defence for Finance and Internal Audit under Oleksiy Reznikov’s leadership.
Zamlynskyi and the ‘UAH 17 Eggs’ Scandal
Zamlynskyi gained notoriety for approving controversial contracts for army food supplies, including the infamous “UAH 17 eggs.” This case, which sparked public outcry, became the subject of investigations by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). He was also involved in approving contracts for the procurement of mortar rounds worth UAH 1.3 billion from Lviv Arsenal.
Changes at the State Special Communications Service
Zamlynskyi’s appointment follows significant structural changes within the State Special Communications Service. On 19 November, the Cabinet of Ministers removed the agency from the jurisdiction of Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov. Earlier, on 15 November, the government dismissed the service’s head, Yuriy Myronenko, who had led the agency following the detention of his predecessor, Yuriy Shchyhol. Shchyhol is suspected of involvement in a corruption scheme that embezzled UAH 62 million through software procurement.
Previous Scandals
Zamlynskyi’s record includes involvement in the so-called “helicopter scandal” of 2021. At that time, Ukroboronprom announced a purported contract for the production of American-style helicopters in Ukraine, which later turned out to be a fabrication.
After Reznikov’s resignation amid a series of controversies, Zamlynskyi was appointed Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in early 2024. In this role, he oversaw military-technical cooperation and arms control issues.
‘Drone Army’ and Alleged Losses
In late October, Hromadske reported that the state potentially lost almost UAH 600 million on drone procurements under the Army of Drones project. These purchases were carried out jointly by the State Special Communications Service and the Ministry of Digital Transformation.
Zamlynskyi’s appointment to a senior position in the State Special Communications Service has raised concerns among experts about the transparency of decision-making and the management of public resources.