On 9 and 10 May, detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) are conducting searches of a number of high-ranking officials of the National Guard. This was reported by sources of ZN.UA in law enforcement agencies and in the NABU itself.
The investigative actions are being carried out as part of criminal proceedings under three articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:
- Part 5 of Article 191 — appropriation or embezzlement of property,
- Part 3 of Article 209 — money laundering,
- Parts 3 and 4 of Article 368 — obtaining unlawful benefits.
Searches were carried out, in particular, at the headquarters of the National Guard, as well as at the homes of several colonels responsible for logistics, equipment and construction. Investigators also visited the Central Supply Base of the Main Directorate of the National Guard.
NABU detectives conducted searches at the homes of:
- Brigadier General Oleksandr Pivnenko, commander of the National Guard;
- Colonel Serhiy Hrytsenko, director of the Logistics Department of the Main Directorate of the National Guard;
- Colonel Mykola Modlinsky, director of the Logistics Department of the Main Directorate of the National Guard;
- Deputy Director of the Logistics Department – Head of the Motor Vehicle and Armoured Vehicle Division of the Main Directorate of the National Guard, Colonel Oleksandr Kalatynets;
- Head of the Accommodation and Capital Construction Division, Colonel Denys Ganaz;
- Head of the Central Production and Technological Equipment Base of the National Guard (Kyiv), Colonel Volodymyr Fedorovskyi.
According to the investigation, the officials allegedly organised a bribery scheme worth 190 million hryvnias. The money could have been provided in exchange for assistance in concluding contracts for the supply of goods and services, as well as in determining the winners of tenders. As part of this scheme, the commander of the National Guard, according to preliminary data, could have received a Toyota RAV-4 car and non-residential premises in Kyiv with an area of over 70 square metres as a reward.
A separate investigation concerns the alleged collusion of employees of BP EXIM SVITOVA OBRONA LLC. According to the investigation, this involves the embezzlement of another 199 million hryvnias in the purchase of FV tracked armoured personnel carriers at inflated prices. In this case, searches are also being carried out at the homes of Colonels Hrytsenko and Kalatynets, as well as at the home of Deputy Commander of the National Guard General Oleksandr Bilous.