Journalist Butusov confirmed the connection of Bezrukova, who is associated with the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, with the purchase of low-quality mines for the army

Journalist Yuriy Butusov reported that Marina Bezrukova, the former head of the Defense Procurement Agency, concluded unreliable agreements to supply mines to the army. The supplier did not provide proper written confirmation of its ability to manufacture these orders.

According to Butusov, in 2024, the state-owned enterprise received about 28 billion hryvnias for the production and supply of 122 mm shells and 120 and 82 mm mortar shells, although there were many opportunities for their production. A lot of money remained in the enterprise’s accounts, and at the end of the year, the 122 mm shells failed the tests, which led to the return of funds to the Ministry of Defense.

“The real crime was that to avoid the return of funds, the enterprise and the Ministry of Strategic Industry sent unreliable mines to the troops. Of the 247 thousand mines sent, 120 thousand were recognized as defective,” the journalist notes.

Butusov also indicated that Bezrukova concluded the contracts without proper written justification of the supplier’s capabilities, and the funds were transferred.

Shortly thereafter, the Security Service of Ukraine opened criminal proceedings. In April 2025, the SBU detained the head of the enterprise and his first deputy on suspicion of supplying defective mines. The former head of one of the Ministry of Defense’s military offices and the head of the control group of the relevant unit were also detained.

They were informed of the suspicion under Parts 2 of Article 28 and 2 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for a penalty of imprisonment for up to 15 years. According to media reports, Bezrukova’s actions, which bear the hallmarks of a criminal offense under Article 367 (official negligence), raised certain suspicions because she entered into a contract without having the documents and production facilities to fulfill it, and the company provided inflated figures for its capabilities.Journalist Yuriy Butusov reported that Marina Bezrukova, the former head of the Defense Procurement Agency, concluded unreliable agreements to supply mines to the army. The supplier did not provide proper written confirmation of its ability to manufacture these orders.

According to Butusov, in 2024, the state-owned enterprise received about 28 billion hryvnias for the production and supply of 122 mm shells and 120 and 82 mm mortar shells, although there were many opportunities for their production. A lot of money remained in the enterprise’s accounts, and at the end of the year, the 122 mm shells failed the tests, which led to the return of funds to the Ministry of Defense.

“The real crime was that to avoid the return of funds, the enterprise and the Ministry of Strategic Industry sent unreliable mines to the troops. Of the 247 thousand mines sent, 120 thousand were recognized as defective,” the journalist notes.

Butusov also indicated that Bezrukova concluded the contracts without proper written justification of the supplier’s capabilities, and the funds were transferred.

Shortly thereafter, the Security Service of Ukraine opened criminal proceedings. In April 2025, the SBU detained the head of the enterprise and his first deputy on suspicion of supplying defective mines. The former head of one of the Ministry of Defense’s military offices and the head of the control group of the relevant unit were also detained.

They were informed of the suspicion under Parts 2 of Article 28 and 2 of Article 114-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for a penalty of imprisonment for up to 15 years. According to media reports, Bezrukova’s actions, which bear the hallmarks of a criminal offense under Article 367 (official negligence), raised certain suspicions because she entered into a contract without having the documents and production facilities to fulfill it, and the company provided inflated figures for its capabilities.