Ukraine to buy ammunition from Romanian firm linked to pro-Russian candidate – expert Zgurets

He shared this information on Espreso TV.

"This is quite a complex and interesting situation. On one hand, it involves a Romanian company owned by Charles Douglas Anderson, an American in the arms industry since 2013. Last year, this company started operating in Romania, acquired a local firm, and declared plans to produce ammunition. This American also runs a consulting company in the U.S.," Zgurets explained.

According to Zgurets, the company, named Wall Street Capital Partners, specializes in consulting but operates several branches. Anderson, a former U.S. military officer, collaborates with American embassies.

"They did begin setting up an arms business in Romania. The Ukrainian Defense Procurement Agency even signed a contract with them to purchase mortar mines worth approximately €44 million. Here’s the paradox: this American backs a pro-Russian presidential candidate in Romania, yet Ukraine is contracting his Romanian company. That’s how it looks initially; we need to dig deeper," Zgurets said.

He further confirmed that the contract involves over 100,000 mortar mines, intended for delivery in 2025-2026. However, Ukraine hasn’t paid for this deal yet.

"This raises valid concerns about thoroughly vetting contract partners. Despite Anderson’s investments in Romania, including buying a gunpowder factory and securing U.S. funding, the company lacks the capacity to produce mortar mines. They’d need to source shells, explosives, and detonators elsewhere to fulfill this contract. This entire situation demands further investigation. The main takeaway is that Anderson, while running a business in Romania, also supported the pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu during a TikTok campaign. Meanwhile, Ukraine has signed a contract with his company," Zgurets emphasized.

The expert concluded by highlighting the need for stricter scrutiny of suppliers. Ukraine's Defense Procurement Agency aims to find manufacturers worldwide but must ensure they meet production capabilities before signing contracts. Ukraine must be more cautious in choosing partners to avoid risks, including political ones.

• Romania's Supreme Council of National Defense has declassified documents linked to Georgescu’s election campaign, where he unexpectedly won the first round.