Armored Vest Deal Worth 217 Million UAH Fails Quality Checks: The 'Mindich Tapes' Scandal.

Controversial Tender for Body Armor Supply

According to Espreso.tv: A court ruling in case No. 910/14189/25 has brought to light a tender awarded to MILIKON UA LLC for the delivery of armored vests valued at 217 million Ukrainian hryvnias—equipment that ultimately failed quality control. This case is tied to the scandal surrounding the so-called 'Mindich tapes,' which allegedly captured pressure being applied to former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The toxic contract was terminated following Umerov's resignation from his post as defense minister. This incident has drawn significant attention to corruption risks in Ukraine's defense procurement system.

MILIKON UA LLC won the tender in February 2025, but the body armor specified in the contract did not pass acceptance inspections. In November 2025, Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) notified seven individuals of suspicion in the 'Midas' case. By December 2025, the High Anti-Corruption Court had issued a pre-trial detention order in absentia against Mindich.

Public and Expert Reactions

In spring 2026, the 'Mindich tapes' were made public, sparking widespread outrage. In May 2026, military personnel did not receive 10,000 armored vests on time, drawing sharp criticism from both the public and experts. On June 10, 2026, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) conducted searches at the premises of businessman Vasyl Vesely, a move also linked to this case.

Vitaliy Shabunin, commenting on the situation, stated: 'This case clearly illustrates how defense procurement works when characters like Mindich get involved.'

These events underscore deep-seated issues in Ukraine's public procurement system, which require urgent reforms to ensure the quality and safety of military supplies.

• The body armor tender controversy highlights systemic problems in Ukraine's state procurement processes, especially in critical sectors like defense.
• Unlawful actions and corruption schemes, which are becoming increasingly apparent, jeopardize the safety of military personnel who depend on reliable equipment.
• It is essential for relevant authorities to take steps to improve quality control and transparency in procurement procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future.