Search at Reznikov’s house: Media reports, but NABU does not comment

NABU Searches Former Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov

On July 3, detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine searched the premises of former Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov. According to law enforcement sources, these investigative actions are related to the investigation into the purchase of food for the Ukrainian military at inflated prices. Earlier, NABU noted that at that time, Reznikov was not a suspect in this case.

The search came as a surprise to the former minister, as he was not notified in advance. During the investigative actions, an unofficial phone and several important documents were seized from him. There are currently no public comments from NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office.

Information about the search was also confirmed by “Ukrainska Pravda,” which indicated that electronic devices and other items were found on Reznikov. Sources claim that this search is most likely related to the investigation into food purchases, but the status of suspicion regarding the ex-minister has not yet been established.

Earlier in April, a joint investigation by law enforcement officers revealed a large-scale scheme of embezzlement of state funds during the supply of food for the Armed Forces. As established, due to artificially inflated prices, suppliers were able to appropriate more than 733 million hryvnias of budget funds.

In addition, it is known that the situation with food was not unique. According to the case materials, businessman Mykola Petrenko was tasked with ensuring the supply of bulletproof vests and military ammunition worth 1.7 billion hryvnias under the contract; however, these funds were allegedly taken out of the country. Bohdan Khmelnytsky, the Director of the State Procurement Department of the Ministry of Defense, signed the documents in these cases.