Defence officials in Ukraine arrested for alleged provision of defective artillery shells.
KICK 'EM OUT:
Kyiv's got a bit of a problem on its hands, mate. Seems like a couple of skeevy defense officials in Ukraine have been supplying the troops with dud mortar shells! The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) spilled the beans on Tuesday, stating they nabbed the big cheese and his deputy of a defense plant in the Dnipropetrovsk region. These blokes had the audacity to unleash a whole bunch of dodgy ammo on the troops!
According to the SSU, these defense plant executives have been cooking up trouble for the armed forces, providing them with a whopping 120,000 defective 120mm mortar shells! That's enough to deck out an army, but instead, they've saddled these brave soldiers with a load of rubbish!
But wait, there's more. It turns out they weren't the only ones in on this stinky scheme. Two defense ministry officials were also yanked in for questioning. If they're found guilty, these jokers are looking at 15 years in the clink!
It's no surprise Ukraine's defense scene is as fishy as a week-old fish 'n' chips. They've been battling corruption within the military and the defense ministry for a while now, ever since they ramped up production and started snagging some Western aid after Russia's full-scale invasion in early 2022. Several scandals have forced some high-profile resignations, including Oleksiy Reznikov stepping down as defense minister in September 2023.
In late 2024, a news report revealed at least 100,000 120mm shells were sent back for inspection. Soldiers had been griping about their dodgy ammo, claiming the rounds wouldn't explode, would get stuck in the mortar, or miss the mark entirely. Private Ukrainian TV 1+1 reported on the issue.
Apparently, the producers used low-quality materials, and defense ministry officials responsible for quality control looked the other way. The shoddy batch forced frontline troops to spend extra time confirming the ammo was reliable while understaffed units faced potential shortages. Talk about adding insult to injury!
Additional Insights:- The four officials detained by the SSU included defense plant executives and military quality control officials who falsified inspection records.- The defective shells posed additional dangers due to excess propellant charges beyond standard operational hazards.- The faulty ammo compromised combat readiness, led to operational failures, and posed safety risks for frontline troops.
- The detained deputy in Ukraine's defense plant in Dnipropetrovsk region is under scrutiny for supplying defective 120mm mortar shells to troops, a matter that falls under the general news category and war-and-conflicts policy and legislation.
- The investigation uncovered a stinky scheme involving not only the defense plant executives, but also two defense ministry officials, raising concerns about corruption in Ukraine's politics and crime-and-justice system.
- The 120,000 defective 120mm mortar shells provided to the troops by these officials pose significant risks, not only compromising combat readiness, but also leading to operational failures and safety risks for frontline troops.
- In late 2024, a suspect news report indicated that at least 100,000 120mm shells were sent back for inspection due to their poor quality. The report, aired on Private Ukrainian TV 1+1, highlighted the debate surrounding the quality of ammunition in Ukraine's defense scene.
- It's unfortunate that even as Ukraine fights against corruption within the military and the defense ministry, scandals such as this persist, adding more difficulties in maintaining a strong defense policy and ensuring the welfare of their troops.
