Ukraine and France search Nice properties in probe into funds for substandard military body armor
The Security Service of Ukraine and the State Bureau of Investigation, together with French law enforcement officers, conducted searches in Nice as part of an investigation into the legalization of funds received during the purchase of bulletproof vests for the Ukrainian and French law enforcement officers have conducted a series of searches in Nice, southern France, as part of a money-laundering investigation linked to the procurement of substandard body armor for Ukrainian troops.
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) announced the operation on November 13, saying it was conducted jointly with the State Bureau of Investigation, the Prosecutor General's Office and French authorities under an international legal assistance request.
According to investigators, nearly 2 billion hryvnias in Ukrainian public funds were used in 2022 to purchase 67,000 bulletproof vests for the country's defense forces. The entire amount was paid in advance.
However, independent ballistic testing found that the protective equipment failed to meet its advertised protection standards.
Investigators are now examining whether money connected to the procurement scheme was subsequently used to purchase luxury residential and commercial properties in France, registered in the names of suspects' family members.
During the searches in Nice, officers seized documents, mobile phones and other electronic devices, which have been sent for forensic examination.
Authorities also placed properties and bank accounts linked to individuals involved in the case under judicial seizure in France, according to the SBU.
The Ukrainian security agency stressed that the investigation into suspected money laundering remains ongoing. It has not publicly established that the French properties were purchased with misappropriated procurement funds.
Meanwhile, the separate criminal case concerning the original body armor procurement has already reached court.
The SBU thanked French law enforcement authorities for their cooperation in carrying out the investigative measures.
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