Shevtsov explained to the Temporary Investigation Commission why the Ministry of Defence had not accepted the bulletproof vests
At the TSK meeting, the situation regarding a consignment of bulletproof vests for the Ministry of Defence, which had not been accepted by the Central Quality Control Department, was discussed.
During the meeting, an excerpt from a telephone conversation dated 8 July 2025 was read out. In it, the then Minister of Defence, Rustem Umerov, telephoned Mykola Mykolayovych. A note by the NABU detective states that this likely refers to Mykola Shevtsov, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine.
In the conversation, Umerov asked about bulletproof vests. The other party replied that the intermediaries had delivered substandard products, after which they promised to rework them and were never heard from again.
The recording also mentioned that these were not Israelis, but intermediaries who, according to the interlocutor, “had absolutely no connection to the equipment” and “did not understand what they were doing”.
After the conversation was read out, Shevtsov confirmed that such a conversation with Umerov had taken place. He noted that he did not dispute its content, provided it had been recorded.
What was wrong with the bulletproof vests
When asked what exactly was wrong with the bulletproof vests, Shevtsov explained that after taking office in May, he was informed of an unresolved issue regarding the procurement.
According to him, the director of the State Logistics Operator and the director of the procurement department reported that a consignment of bulletproof vests had already been delivered, but the Central Quality Control Department was refusing to accept it.
Shevtsov said that he had heard the report from the manager in charge, whose name he no longer remembers, as he had left the organisation some time ago.
According to him, the problem was that the ceramic protection area in the delivered bulletproof vests did not meet the established requirements.
“We have no right to accept such bulletproof vests,” Shevtsov explained his position.
He added that the officials agreed at the time: bulletproof vests that do not meet the requirements cannot be accepted.
According to Shevtsov, this was a matter of principle for him.
When the issue with the batch arose
Shevtsov reported that the first reports regarding the problematic body armour were made around the second half of May 2025.
He noted that he had instructed staff to look into the situation, prepare proposals and keep him informed of further decisions.
According to him, there were many questions regarding procurement at that time, and the contract had not yet expired.
Later, around June, the issue was raised again at a meeting attended by the Minister of Defence.
Shevtsov reported that Umerov had drawn attention to problems with the acceptance of body armour and spoke of the need to sort out this issue.
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