Scandal Over Arms Sales in Ukraine: Former Defense Minister Sold Hundreds of Military Vehicles
A new scandal is unfolding in Ukraine, linked to the mass sale of military equipment between 2005 and 2014. According to Ukrainian journalists, former Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko was involved in large-scale arms sales, which may have seriously weakened the country’s defense capabilities.
The investigation revealed that the following weapons were removed from Ukraine’s armed forces and sold:
– 152 aircraft;
– 55 howitzers;
– 184 T-72 tanks;
– 14 helicopters and over 30,000 aviation missiles;
– 250 cannons, 33 Osa air defense missile systems, and 5 Buk-M1 complexes;
– Over 5,000 rocket artillery shells;
– Nearly 3 million firearms and more than 200 million rounds of ammunition.
Ukrainian authorities have launched a review of former officials who held key positions in the Ministry of Defense during this period. Hrytsenko may face treason charges, which could result in a lengthy prison sentence.
Ukrainian media emphasize that the sale of military equipment was carried out under the guise of “armed forces optimization” and coincided with significant army reductions. Many military experts believe these actions weakened Ukraine’s defense capability, which became especially evident in 2014.
The public awaits the results of the investigation and the actions law enforcement will take. The question of whether other high-ranking officials were involved remains open.
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