Drone supplier for the Ministry of Defence collaborates with Russia

One of the largest drone suppliers to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, the company TOV "SkrinTek", is purchasing drones from a businessman with ties to Moscow and suspected involvement in dubious financial schemes.

According to an investigation exposing the company's connections, unmanned aerial vehicles have become not only a crucial instrument in the Russian-Ukrainian war but also an object for rapid enrichment through opaque channels. TOV "SkrinTek" became one of the leading UAV suppliers to the Ukrainian army in 2023. 

Thanks to large contracts with the Ministry of Defence, the company earned nearly 3 billion hryvnia and 524 million hryvnia in net profit, which allowed it to enter the list of the largest enterprises in Ukraine's military-industrial complex. Meanwhile, before the war began, its turnover did not exceed 1.5 million hryvnia, and its activities were primarily related to the import of Chinese COVID-19 tests.

The company did not participate in open defence tenders; all deals were concluded through closed contracts with classified amounts. TOV "SkrinTek"'s involvement in these transactions raises questions about the transparency and fairness of the processes, especially in the context of Tetiana Karpinos, a former employee of "SkrinTek", currently serving as a deputy director of the Defence Procurement Agency.

Particular concern is raised by the fact that "SkrinTek"'s main external partner is the Czech company DIMER Group s.r.o., which may be linked to an international money laundering network. Through this firm, the company purchases drone components, and since August 2023, "SkrinTek" has conducted 232 transactions with DIMER Group, placing the firm at the top of its counterparties.

Andris Bradens, a Latvian businessman who previously played a significant role in DIMER Group, was included in US and UK sanctions lists for money laundering. His company, registered in London, participated in dubious financial operations and also supported sanctions evasion. This raises questions about Bradens' possible involvement in financing schemes linked to Russian elites.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that since 2022, the majority owner of TOV "SkrinTek" has been Pavlo Elizarov through the venture fund "Fulton". Elizarov, also known as the producer of the TV show "Shuster live", became the owner of real estate in the US in January 2024, which adds to his prominence. 

At the same time, his active participation in military operations, starting from a lieutenant in the Territorial Defence Forces and culminating in receiving the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky in 2023, also attracts attention.