Shirts unfit for frontline service worth over UAH 8.6 million supplied to the National Guard

Combat shirts worth more than UAH 8.6 million, supplied to the National Guard of Ukraine, failed to meet technical requirements and were unsuitable for carrying out missions on the front line. This was reported by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which exposed a scheme to embezzle defense resources. In Kyiv, two businesspeople were detained as they attempted to bribe an officer to conceal violations of a government contract.

According to the investigation, the businesspeople signed a contract with the National Guard in August 2026. It provided for the supply of 10,000 combat shirts. However, instead of making clothing to the required quality standards, the suspects decided to supply the military with products that did not meet uniform requirements. In addition, the customer did not receive the full contracted quantity.

The investigation considers two people linked to a Kyiv-based military equipment manufacturer to be the scheme’s organizers:

• the company’s former founder;
• a representative of the company.

To conceal the shortcomings in the delivery, the businesspeople, according to the SBU, offered an illicit payment to an official at the National Guard’s Central Supply Base. In exchange, he was supposed to ignore the violations. Instead, the servicemember immediately informed his superiors about the corrupt offer. SBU officers documented the unlawful activity.

Searches were conducted at the detainees’ workplaces and residences, as well as in their vehicles. Law enforcement officers found more than UAH 3.5 million in cash, mobile phones, and documents that may serve as evidence of illegal activity.

SBU investigators notified the company’s former founder and its representative that they were suspected of offenses under two provisions of the Criminal Code of Ukraine:

• Part 1 of Article 114-1 — obstructing the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations;
• Part 3 of Article 369 — offering, promising, or providing an illicit benefit to an official, committed by a group of persons acting in prior collusion.

Both suspects are in custody. They face up to eight years in prison, with confiscation of property. The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

We previously reported:

• NABU reports exposing two servicemembers who demanded $100,000 to accept electronic warfare equipment
• They fed expired food to servicemembers: suppliers of dry rations for the Ukrainian Armed Forces suspected of fraud
• A danger to the front line: suppliers of substandard uniforms for servicemembers exposed in Kyiv
• Former Mykolaiv deputy mayor suspected of purchasing substandard uniforms for the military
• “I’m here on behalf of our mutual friends”: businessman supplying the Defense Ministry bribed an investigator with $500,000