{"id":597421,"date":"2026-07-09T19:41:30","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T16:41:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/2026\/07\/597421\/grenade-launchers-from-the-1980s-were-passed-off-as-new-the-sbu-is-investigating-a-weapons-purchase-worth-uah-637-million\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T19:41:33","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T16:41:33","slug":"grenade-launchers-from-the-1980s-were-passed-off-as-new-the-sbu-is-investigating-a-weapons-purchase-worth-uah-637-million","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/en\/2026\/07\/597421\/grenade-launchers-from-the-1980s-were-passed-off-as-new-the-sbu-is-investigating-a-weapons-purchase-worth-uah-637-million\/","title":{"rendered":"Grenade launchers from the 1980s were passed off as new: the SBU is investigating a weapons purchase worth UAH 637 million"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)<\/strong> and the Office of the Prosecutor General<\/strong> are investigating the procurement for the Defense Forces of 6,000 disposable anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launchers RPG-75M<\/strong> with a total value of UAH 637 million<\/strong>. According to the investigation, instead of new weapons, the military unit was allegedly to be handed items from the 1980s<\/strong> with altered markings. The SBU reported this on 9 July 2026<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The contract of SE “Defense Procurement Agency<\/strong>” with a private company envisaged the delivery of launchers manufactured in 2024\u20132026<\/strong>. The supplier received an advance of UAH 318.5 million<\/strong>. At the same time, according to law enforcement, even before signing the contract the Logistics Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine<\/strong> warned the purchaser<\/strong> about the low effectiveness of this type of weapon and suggested considering other models.<\/p>\n

In May 2026<\/strong> the first batch of 3,024 launchers<\/strong> was delivered to the arsenal of one military unit. The military did not accept the weapons due to doubts about their quality and left the batch in temporary storage<\/strong>. During an inspection investigators found, under new labels, old inscriptions in Czech<\/strong>, signs of significant corrosion and components manufactured in 1986\u20131988<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

According to the investigation, the true year of manufacture, technical condition and origin of the launchers may have been concealed using forged documents and by re-marking batch numbers. Law enforcement is also checking a possible collusion between representatives of the state purchaser and the supplier company. Preliminary losses to the state are estimated at UAH 318.5 million<\/strong> \u2014 the amount of the advance for weapons that the military unit effectively did not accept.<\/p>\n

The SBU stated that the same launchers<\/strong> the foreign supplier had already tried to sell to Ukraine in 2022\u20132023<\/strong>. At that time the contract was terminated due to an attempt to deliver old weapons as new. The previous price, according to the investigation, was nine times lower<\/strong>. As part of the criminal proceedings, law enforcement conducted more than ten searches<\/strong> at the offices of “Defense Procurement Agency”, the supplier company and at the residences of the persons involved.<\/p>\n

The proceedings are being investigated under the article on obstruction of the lawful activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during a special period. The investigation is ongoing. Only a court can establish the guilt of those involved.<\/p>\n

Earlier we wrote:<\/strong><\/p>\n