Ukraine’s high anti-corruption court authorizes investigation against ex-CEO of state arms exporter Ukrspecexport

This is stated on the NABU website.

"On August 15, 2023, the High Anti-Corruption Court granted NABU and SAPO permission to conduct a special pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings against the former CEO of Ukrspecexport, the state arms exporter, and later the CEO of Ukroboronprom, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine and the Advisor to the President of Ukraine," the statement said.

The investigation has determined that during the period spanning 2010 to 2012, the suspect, while holding the positions of Director General of Ukrspecexport and Head of Ukroboronprom, conspired with others to orchestrate the formulation and endorsement of an agency agreement alongside several supplementary agreements and documents for work completion in partnership with a non-resident company.

These documents contained deliberately false information about the agency services provided and became the basis for paying the "agent" over USD 23.8 million, which at that time amounted to more than UAH 190 million. 

In addition, the NABU and the SAP are investigating other episodes of possible corruption involving the suspect, and the pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings is ongoing.

The NABU does not directly name the suspect, but it is likely to be Dmytro Salamatin, who held all of the above positions. In 2010, during the term of former President Yanukovych, Salamatin was the CEO of Ukrspecexport. In 2011, he was appointed director general of Ukroboronprom.

In February 2012, by Yanukovych's decree, Salamatin was appointed Minister of Defense of Ukraine. From December 2012 to 2014, he was an advisor to Yanukovych.

• In November 2021, the High Anti-Corruption Court arrested Dmytro Salamatin, a former minister under Viktor Yanukovych, in absentia.