The SBU and the National Police have prevented the illegal sale of nearly 500 kg of TNT in the Kharkiv region. The commander of one of the units of a mechanised brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was detained in connection with the case, law enforcement officials reported. He has been charged with the unlawful handling of explosive substances; the entire consignment, which had been prepared for sale, was seized.
Briefly about the main points
- An illegal sale of nearly half a tonne of TNT was foiled in the Kharkiv region.
- The suspect is the commander of a unit within a mechanised brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
- According to the investigation, buyers were sought out on themed Telegram channels.
- The explosives were seized whilst being sold in the Chuhuiv district.
- The suspect is in custody, and the investigation is identifying those who may be involved.
How law enforcement officers uncovered preparations for the sale of drugs
Pros. data According to the investigation, potential buyers were sought out via themed Telegram channels. The suspect promised to personally deliver the explosives to customers in a company car.
Military counter-intelligence officers SBU He was caught red-handed near a military base in the Chuhuiv district. At the scene of his arrest, the entire consignment prepared for sale was seized, along with a smartphone containing evidence of contact with customers.
The operation was carried out by the SBU’s military counter-intelligence service and the National Police, with the support of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The SBU described this consignment as one of the largest that had been attempted to be sold on the black market since the start of the full-scale war.
Where were the explosives stored, and what is the status of the proceedings?
The investigation established that the TNT was stored in pre-prepared caches in the frontline area of the region where the unit was temporarily stationed.
The detainee was informed that he was suspected of Part 1 of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The penalty for this offence is up to seven years’ imprisonment. The suspect is currently in custody.
Investigators are establishing all the circumstances of the crime and identifying other individuals who may be involved. The case is being supervised by the Kharkiv Specialised Prosecutor’s Office for Defence in the Eastern Region.
