In the heart of Ukraine’s ongoing struggle for survival, a shocking scandal has rocked the nation’s defense sector. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has uncovered a corrupt scheme that led to the delivery of 120,000 defective mortar shells to the frontlines. The culprits? Top executives of a defense plant in Dnipro and their accomplices in the Ministry of Defense. This case not only jeopardizes the combat readiness of Ukraine’s Armed Forces (AFU) but also exposes deep-rooted issues in the country’s defense industry. How did faulty ammunition end up in the hands of Ukraine’s defenders, and who will be held accountable?

In early 2024, a defense plant in Dnipro signed a contract with the Defense Procurement Agency, operating under Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense. The deal, valued at over $300 million, tasked the plant with producing and delivering large batches of 120 mm mortar shells for the AFU’s Ground Forces. These funds were meant to bolster Ukraine’s defenses amid its war against Russia. Instead, the military received 120,000 shells that were entirely unfit for combat.

The SBU investigation revealed that the plant’s leadership—its general director and deputy—knowingly cut corners. They used substandard materials, including low-quality propellant powder that failed to meet the standards for 120 mm mortars. This caused the shells to malfunction, with defective primers often failing to ignite and propellant charges performing erratically. Additional charges included in the shells also fell short of combat requirements.

Why was production allowed to continue? The motive was profit. By using cheaper materials, the plant’s leadership aimed to maximize margins on the lucrative government contract. They didn’t act alone. The scheme involved officials from a Ministry of Defense military oversight unit tasked with quality control. These officials, including a former unit head and the leader of the control group, turned a blind eye to the defects, falsifying reports to greenlight the faulty batch. As a result, unusable shells reached the front, where their failure could have cost Ukrainian soldiers their lives.

The delivery of 120,000 defective shells is more than a financial blow—it’s a direct threat to Ukraine’s military capabilities. 120 mm mortar shells are vital for artillery units holding the line against Russian forces. Misfires, erratic trajectories, or complete duds can derail operations, cede ground, and, worst of all, lead to casualties.

The issue wasn’t entirely new. As early as fall 2024, Ukrainian media reported complaints from soldiers about mortars that failed to fire or detonate. In November, a viral video showed a soldier claiming only one in ten shells worked reliably. Reports at the time suggested up to 100,000 shells might be recalled for inspection. The SBU later confirmed that expert analysis found systemic flaws in the Dnipro plant’s batch.

This scandal comes at a critical time for Ukraine, which is grappling with ammunition shortages in a grueling war of attrition. Western allies, including the EU and the U.S., are stretched thin to supply Kyiv with artillery, but internal failures like this exacerbate the crisis. Recalling defective shells and replacing them with imported ammunition has caused delays, weakening Ukraine’s positions on key fronts.

The SBU detained four key figures: the plant’s general director, his deputy, the former head of the Ministry of Defense oversight unit, and the control group leader. All face charges under Article 28, Part 2, and Article 114-1, Part 2 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code—obstructing the lawful activities of the AFU by a group conspiracy, with grave consequences. If convicted, they could face up to 15 years in prison.

The investigation, overseen by the Office of the Prosecutor General, is ongoing. Authorities are probing whether others were complicit and tracing where the contract funds ended up. Sources suggest the plant continued to secure state contracts even after the defects were flagged, raising questions about oversight in the defense sector.

This isn’t Ukraine’s first defense scandal. In January 2024, the SBU exposed a $40 million embezzlement scheme involving 100,000 undelivered mortar shells, implicating Ministry officials and executives of the Lviv Arsenal company. In December 2023, a Ministry department head was arrested for procuring defective heavy machine guns. These cases fueled public outrage and led to the resignation of Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov in September 2023, though he faced no personal charges.

The Dnipro scandal lays bare deeper issues in Ukraine’s defense industry. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has rapidly scaled up weapons production with Western aid. But this expansion has been marred by corruption, eroding trust at home and abroad. Anti-corruption advocates, like Daria Kaleniuk of the Anti-Corruption Action Center, argue that oversight officials often enable violations in exchange for bribes.

Experts point to systemic flaws:
– **Weak quality control.** Military oversight units meant to ensure standards are frequently compromised.
– **Lack of transparency.** Companies producing defective goods are often shielded under “national security” pretexts, hindering public scrutiny.
– **Incentive for profiteering.** Firms landing billion-dollar contracts are tempted to cut costs for profit, especially in a war-driven economy.

These issues are particularly acute as Ukraine seeks EU and NATO membership, both of which demand robust anti-corruption measures. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has vowed “zero tolerance” for graft, but recurring scandals suggest the system remains vulnerable.

The scandal will have far-reaching repercussions. It puts pressure on the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Strategic Industries to tighten quality controls. Strategic Industries Minister Herman Smetanin has pledged that the defective shells will be replaced at the plant’s expense, with stricter oversight now in place. The case may also dent confidence among Western investors pouring hundreds of millions into Ukraine’s defense sector, including drone production initiatives.

For the AFU, the immediate priority is replacing the faulty shells with imported stock, though this risks further supply chain disruptions. Long-term, Ukraine must overhaul its defense procurement system to prevent such schemes. Activists are pushing for an independent body to monitor weapons quality and for public disclosure of companies that breach contracts.

The scandal over 120,000 defective mortar shells is more than a tale of corruption—it’s a threat to Ukraine’s national security. As Ukrainian troops risk their lives daily, such schemes undermine their ability to resist the enemy. The arrests are a step forward, but true progress will come only when the system becomes transparent and corruption the exception, not the rule. For now, this case is a stark reminder: Ukraine’s fight for survival is waged not just on the battlefield, but in the offices where its defense is shaped.