Former Yanukovych-era defence deputy minister repairs air defence systems

Dmytro Pliatsuk, the deputy defence minister during Viktor Yanukovych's tenure, and his company "Defence Technologies" received nearly 2 billion hryvnias from the state for the repair of air defence systems over three years, from 2022 to 2024. 

These details were revealed in an investigation by the publication "Ukrainska Pravda" titled "How a top Yanukovych defence official who destroyed the defence industry is making money from the war".

Plant bankruptcy and the creation of a new company

Before the events of 2014, Pliatsuk oversaw the Nezhin Repair Plant, which specialised in restoring military engineering equipment. However, after Viktor Yanukovych came to power, the enterprise began to rapidly go bankrupt. In 2015, Pliatsuk registered the company "Defence Technologies", and from 2016 he began buying out assets of the Nezhin plant. By the start of the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a significant part of the enterprise was under his control.

Following the 2022 invasion, the state seized several plant facilities, which prompted legal claims from Pliatsuk's company for 40 million hryvnias. The businessman himself claims that equipment repair is now carried out at other sites.

Departure abroad and return

According to the publication, Pliatsuk left Ukraine on 23 February 2022 — one day before the start of the full-scale invasion — and returned only six months later, in September. Meanwhile, according to sources, he regularly travels abroad, using his status as a person with a mobilisation exemption.

His driver, who accompanies the businessman on trips, initially travelled on business trips, and later received a second-degree disability, which also allowed him to cross the border.

Access to the government quarter and contracts

Journalists have repeatedly spotted Pliatsuk in the government quarter, where access is possible only with special passes. According to sources, his pass was ordered by the secretary of People's Deputy Ihor Kopytin from the "Servant of the People" faction. The latter is the chairman of the subcommittee on defence industry issues in the parliamentary committee on national security and defence.

It is known that in 2021, one of Kopytin's assistants represented the interests of Pliatsuk's company in negotiations with a Turkish defence company.

According to sources, it was during the period when Pliatsuk was seen in the government quarter that state contracts for the repair of 10 surface-to-air missile systems (SAMs) were discussed. The cost of repairing one SAM is approximately 20 million hryvnias. In 2024, Pliatsuk's company received an even larger contract.

Connections and pressure

Several sources in the defence sector reported pressure from officials urging cooperation with Pliatsuk's company. Meanwhile, documentation and the origin of spare parts used in repairs remain confidential information.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that during the 2022–2024 period, contracts worth 1.98 billion hryvnias were concluded with Pliatsuk's enterprise.

Return to influence

After returning from Vienna, Pliatsuk managed to strengthen his influence on Ukraine's defence complex. According to the publication, he attends meetings of the parliamentary defence committee significantly more often than representatives of other private companies. This indicates his active role in decision-making regarding the allocation of state contracts.

Legacy of the Yanukovych era

In 2012, during Viktor Yanukovych's presidency, Dmytro Salamatyn — a former Russian citizen — was appointed defence minister. It was he who approved Pliatsuk for the position of his deputy.