Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, commented on the Skhemy investigation into Ukraine’s transfer of strategic bombers and missiles to Russia in the 1990s.
“Corruption, incompetence and lack of strategic vision lead to anti-state decisions. We, as a country and a nation that is paying an extremely high price in the fight for our freedom, have no right to allow such mistakes and crimes to be repeated,” Budanov wrote on Facebook.
According to the investigation, in 1999, Ukraine transferred 11 bombers, 575 X-55 cruise missiles, and other equipment to Russia in exchange for the cancellation of $275 million in gas debts. The agreement was signed by then-Prime Ministers Valeriy Pustovoitenko and Vladimir Putin without the approval of the Verkhovna Rada.
“A very useful and important investigation indeed. I thank the Skhemy team for this important work”added the head of the DIU.
According to him, some of the transferred weapons are now being used to attack Ukrainian cities. “We will be able to defeat the enemy and reliably protect Ukraine when we irreversibly change. The interests of the state should be the top priority for everyone,” – Budanov emphasized.
The journalists identified several high-ranking officials as being involved in the transfer, including the then head of the SBU, Leonid Derkach, and Defense Minister Oleksandr Kuzmuk. According to Olha Butkevych, a doctor of law, the transfer without parliamentary approval violated the Constitution of Ukraine.
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