The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is conducting an investigation into possible violations during the construction of fortification structures commissioned by the Poltava Regional Military Administration. This was announced by NABU Director Semen Kryvonos, confirming that the bureau currently has several criminal cases related to this issue.
This is reported by Kyiv24
The Investigation is Identifying Those Involved in Possible Abuses
According to Kryvonos, detectives are already identifying individuals who may have been involved in the abuses, including the then leadership of the region, particularly Philip Pronin, who at one time headed the Poltava Regional Military Administration. An active phase of investigative actions is currently underway to clarify the role of each of the involved parties.
“Currently, the circle of those involved in this crime is being established, a number of investigative actions have been conducted, and we are essentially examining the role of each, including the leadership at that time,” Kryvonos noted.
Accusations of Lack of Cooperation and Officials’ Reactions
The NABU Director also emphasized that the State Financial Monitoring Service, currently headed by Philip Pronin, did not ensure proper cooperation in the investigation of alleged corruption in the defense sector. Kryvonos noted that at the beginning of the year, NABU sent a series of requests related to defense procurement but did not receive relevant information in response. According to the bureau’s head, such passivity raises justified suspicions.
Kryvonos stressed that he expects cooperation from the State Financial Monitoring Service, especially in the case concerning the movement of funds related to money laundering, including in the case regarding “Energoatom.” He emphasized that financial monitoring should have shown initiative and offered assistance to the investigation from the very first days of the inquiry. Meanwhile, the agency has not yet provided official comments regarding these statements.
It is worth noting that in September, Philip Pronin called the information about alleged price inflation during the construction of fortifications inaccurate, arguing that all rates corresponded to the approved project and budget documentation, agreed upon by the state enterprise “Ukrderzhbudexpertiza.”
In October, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported on searches conducted by NABU due to suspicions of abuses in the construction of fortifications in the Poltava Regional Military Administration under Pronin’s leadership.