Unsuitable equipment and technical threats: why Mileshko’s helicopters can be dangerous for the Armed Forces of Ukraine
During the fighting in Ukraine, helicopters received filters that were not suitable for local climatic conditions. A company with ties to businessman Roman Mileshko supplied the filters. The lack of public testing raises concerns about the crews’ safety. Details can be found in the StopKor investigation.
Companies associated with Roman Mileshko supply the Ukrainian Armed Forces with PALL 120 PUREair filters. These filters are designed primarily for operation in the hot and sandy climate typical of some African countries. In Ukraine, such filters can pose a safety threat.
Vitaly Jonash, a former chief engineer of army aviation, notes that these filters are not equipped with a heating system, which in winter leads to icing. Icing blocks the airflow and threatens the engines, causing loss of thrust and equipment failure during flight.
The filters were purchased through structures associated with Mileshko, but no public tests of them in the Ukrainian winter were conducted. Despite this, equipment with such filters is already actively used in combat conditions.
Experts emphasize that a serious drawback is a lack of testing for military equipment in real operating conditions. This jeopardizes the effectiveness of combat missions and devalues pilots’ lives.
StopKor journalists found out that companies with ties to Mileshko continue to receive government contracts despite numerous comments about the quality of their work and products. Some of these companies supply equipment with unavailable data on characteristics.
During the war, equipment enters service that may not withstand harsh winter conditions. The relevant authorities must urgently investigate these issues since they concern not only the effectiveness of budget expenditures but also the real risks for the Ukrainian military.
