Some details of kickback schemes in Ukraine were alleged by Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) on Dec. 9. Their statement reported a new plan, based on intelligence they’ve obtained, whereby military supplies would be bought in Eastern Europe and the Global South for up to $1,000 per shell. They would be procured under the “Czech Ammunition Initiative” by an intermediary, Poland’s PHU Lechmar firm. That company would relabel the shells as made in Poland and send them to Ukraine with a new price tag of $5,000, providing the wherewithal for a lot of payoffs. The operation is financed by the U.K., Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, and others
The SVR stated: “Financial kickbacks for responsible officials from the specified states are naturally accounted for.” It added: “Persons affiliated with the former head of the President’s Office A. Yermak and other representatives of the Mindich-Zelenskyy corruption group have repeatedly turned to the services” of PHU Lechmar. Hence, they add, a key element amongst Zelenskyy’s circles in opposing Trump’s peace plan is the addiction to their criminal enterprises.
