Ukrainian Armor reports search and beating of deputy director

Defence company Ukrainian Armor has stated that the Security Service of Ukraine searched the home of its first deputy director. The company says that law enforcement officers severely beat the employee – he is currently in the hospital.

CEO Vladyslav Belbas said in a comment that there were several searches, and law enforcement officers seized phones and laptops. The company explains that the investigative actions were carried out over allegedly defective grenade launchers that the Defence Procurement Agency purchased from Ukrainian Armor. The procurement procedure was announced in February, with around 20 different suppliers submitting proposals.

According to Ukrainian Armor, its proposal was recognised as the cheapest, and the DPA selected the RPG-75M grenade launchers, manufactured by the Czech company Zeveta Ammunition, from among those offered. Ukrainian Armor acted as the importer of these products. The company writes that in June 2026 it fulfilled its contractual obligations and delivered the products to the designated warehouse.

The SSU is investigating the theory that these grenade launchers were defective. This was stated in the search warrant, Belbas explains. He adds that none of his employees was called in for questioning or had suspicion notices served on them, and no requests were sent to the company. The statement from Ukrainian Armor also says that the DPA has still not given final acceptance to the grenade launchers.

“The investigators completely disregard the fact that the grenade launchers in question were supplied directly from the manufacturing plant, which is not involved in resolving the issue of assessing the quality or condition of the delivered grenade launchers,” the manufacturer writes.

Vladyslav Belbas said that the company has nothing against the investigations, is ready to cooperate, and has approached the SBU and the Prosecutor General’s Office regarding the provision of case materials. However, it will take all legal action in response to the beating of the employee. The CEO says they have video evidence, which will be published later. A statement to the police about the beating is also being filed.

The SSU and the PGO have not yet published statements regarding the searches.

As a reminder, this week the State Bureau of Investigation searched another defence company, Vyriy Industries. Investigators are checking possible inflated prices on drones that it supplied to the state.

Ukrainian Armor produces various models of armoured vehicles, mortars and ammunition. It also supplies the military with the UGV Protector and recently presented new radio-controlled and fibre-optic FPV drones.