Ukraine Detains Motor Sich’s President for Supplying Engine Parts for Russian Ka, Mi Helicopters

Ukraine’s security officers have arrested President of Motor Sich, Vyacheslav Bohuslayev, for “illegally” supplying engine parts for Russian-origin Ka and Mi helicopters.

"The officers of the Security Service of Ukraine detained the President and the Head of the Foreign Economic Activity Department of JSC Motor Sich. They were served with notice of charges under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Art. 111-1 (collaboration); Art. 111-2 (aiding and abetting the aggressor state)," Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) confirmed in a statement on October 23.

The agency said that the management of the Zaporizhzhia-based plant acted in collusion with representatives of Russia’s state-controlled Rostec which is close to the Kremlin. The accused established transnational channels for the illegal supply of wholesale batches of Ukrainian aircraft engines to Russia. The products obtained from Ukraine were utilized to produce and repair Russian attack helicopters such as Mi-8AMTSh-VN Sapsan, KA-52 Alligator and Mi-28N Night Hunter, many of which have been used in the ongoing war.

"To circumvent the established restrictions on trade with the Russian Federation, the organizers of the scheme used controlled commercial structures in three countries of the Middle East, Europe, and East Asia. These companies sent the ‘order’ to the Ukrainian manufacturer allegedly for the needs of a foreign party. However, after receiving the military products, the ‘intermediaries’ shipped them to Russia. Moreover, the enemy used its foreign accomplices to repair and maintain its aircraft with the use of Ukrainian spare parts," SBU said.

Measures to expose and block offenses were carried out by employees of the Counterintelligence Department and the Main Investigative Department of the SBU under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office.