The Ministry of Defence and the State Customs Service have uncovered the illegal importation of goods disguised as humanitarian aid

Since the onset of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Internal Audit Department of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, in cooperation with the State Customs Service’s Department for Combating Smuggling and Customs Violations, has been conducting ongoing monitoring and inspections of humanitarian aid consignments intended for the Defence Forces of Ukraine.

During joint operations, numerous instances were identified in which vehicles, helmets, body armor, weapons, spare parts, and other goods were imported under the guise of humanitarian aid. A total of 1,339 protocols on customs violations related to humanitarian aid have been filed by customs offices since the enactment of martial law in Ukraine. In 708 cases, military units were listed as recipients, yet the goods were never delivered to them.

One of the bases for importing these goods illegally was the presentation of forged end-user certificates.

“Unfortunately, not all goods crossing the state border under the guise of humanitarian aid reach their intended recipients or comply with customs formalities. To identify violations, the Ministry of Defence actively and promptly exchanges information with the State Customs Service. This enables the Ministry’s auditors to verify the receipt of humanitarian aid by military units and identify instances of illegal activities. “The information about such illegal activities is subsequently forwarded to law enforcement agencies,” emphasized Colonel Oleksandr Tytkovskyi, Director of the Internal Audit Department of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.