Copyright © 2021 Euromaidanpress.com

The work of Euromaidan Press is supported by the International Renaissance Foundation

When referencing our materials, please include an active hyperlink to the Euromaidan Press material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. To reprint anything longer, written permission must be acquired from [email protected].

Privacy and Cookie Policies.

Ukraine arrested the former director & managers of Antonov state enterprise for obstructing preparation for war which led to the destruction of Mriya plane

Serhiy Bychkov, former director of the State Enterprise Antonov, Photo by Telegraph.ua

Former director and managers of Ukraine’s state aviation enterprise Antonov were arrested, Ukraine’s Security Service reported. They are accused of “obstructing the legal activities” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine before the Russian invasion and failure to prepare Hostomel airport for defense in January-February 2022. This led to the destruction of the world’s largest plane An-225 Mriya and other planes the Antonov company owned.

Reportedly, former director Serhiy Bychkov, former deputy director Mykhailo Kharchenko, and former chief of aviation security Oleksandr Netiosov were accused, and two of them were already arrested. However, the prosecutors didn’t publicly say the names, only positions which suspects occupied.

On March 29, 2022, Buchkov was removed from his office in connection with information published in the media that the management of Antonov State Enterprise did not take appropriate measures to save the An-225 Mriya aircraft on the eve of a full-scale Russian invasion

The Security Service of Ukraine also says that in January-February 2022, officials of the Antonov state enterprise who were also managing the Hostomel airfield near Kyiv directly prohibited the Ukrainian military from constructing defensive fortifications at the airport.

Such criminal actions allowed [Russians] to temporarily seize a strategically important airfield, settlements nearby and destroy the AN-225 Mriya aircraft,” Security Service writes.

Suspects face 15 years of imprisonment if court rules they are guilty.

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this.  We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!
Total
0
Shares