Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
The Bureau of Economic Security is investigating the possible embezzlement of 724,3 million UAH of budget funds during the procurement of Magura UA, Kolyada K4 and Ares A1 unmanned aerial vehicles for defense needs. The criminal proceeding concerns suppliers whom journalists link to the circle around businessman Seyar Kurshutov, as well as possible overpricing of components and pressure on the leadership of the Ministry of Defense. According to the investigation materials, the calculated difference in the price of two categories of components amounts to 39,7 million UAH.
Criminal proceeding No. 72025001420000026 was opened on 3 March 2025 under part 5 of article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, media report. The basis was BEB memorandum No. 9.3/3.3.1/1590-25 dated 28 February 2025. The total contract amount is 724,3 million UAH: 460,8 million UAH was allocated under contracts through the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection, and another 263,5 million UAH — through the Defense Procurement Agency. One of the central companies in the investigation materials is Euro Tunnels LLC (EDRPOU code 44751790). According to available data, the company imported Hobbywing X8 motors at prices from 267 to 370 dollars per unit. At the same time other importers supplied similar components at 109–112,5 dollars. The calculated price difference for this category of goods is 28,7 million UAH. Another 11 million UAH of possible overpayment relates to CubePilot HEX controllers. Euro Tunnels purchased them at prices of 295–588 dollars, while offers from other importers showed prices of 165–250 dollars. The maximum price of a Hobbywing X8 motor in the company's purchases exceeded the minimum price offered by other suppliers by 3,4 times. At the same time, for a final comparison it is necessary to take into account equipment configuration, delivery terms and product specifications. The investigation is also checking foreign invoices and documents relating to deliveries from the Polish company DEEP MATTER sp. z o.o. Journalists link it to Svitlana and Oleksandr Kosachuks. Establishing the actual cost of imported components and comparing documents from different suppliers is one direction of the investigation. Euro Tunnels was established in August 2022 with a charter capital of 127 thousand UAH. Over 2023–2024 years its revenue increased from 195,1 million to 550,7 million UAH, and profit — from 34,9 million to 99,4 million UAH. The number of employees grew from 31 to 90 people, and profitability reached 18%. The owner of the enterprise is listed as former tax official Borys Zahalsky. Another participant in defense procurements is ARES. LLC (EDRPOU code 45587337), registered in March 2024 with a charter capital of 10 million UAH. The company, whose owner is listed as Maksym Pugach, increased revenue roughly from 6,1 million to 238 million UAH. Four Ares A1 drones were purchased for 12,3 million UAH. Among other companies linked to drone supply are Kolyada KA, GE Technology and Flytech Ukraine. According to the journalistic investigation, ties between market participants are traced through previous work in other companies and business contacts. Borys Zahalsky crossed paths with Andriy Andriichenko at the company Yevroproekt-2017, and Maksym Pugach — at Forest Ukraine. The trademarks Magura and Kolyada are registered to Darya Kaplunenko.
A separate direction of the investigation concerns a possible link between Seyar Kurshutov and suppliers through former customs officer Hlib Lobov. Journalists name Lobov as the de facto controller of Euro Tunnels and also link him to GE Technology. Lobov received 69,62% of the company Tusana (EDRPOU code 42301955), which previously belonged to Kateryna Liubchyk, the wife of Seyar Kurshutov. The remaining 30,38% of the enterprise belongs to Anastasiia Besedina. On 11 October 2022 Kateryna Liubchyk registered in Vienna the company AmbraCosmetics GmbH with a charter capital of 35 thousand euros. According to journalists, her business has ties to the brand Zielinski & Rozen and the Russian company Bentus Laboratories. These circumstances are also mentioned in the context of studying the business ties of Seyar Kurshutov’s circle. In 2021–2024 years Seyar Kurshutov was under sanctions by the National Security and Defense Council. In 2022, by presidential decree No. 638, he was deprived of Ukrainian citizenship. The businessman is appealing that decision. At the same time journalists link his former business circle to a number of companies that received contracts to supply defense products. In June 2026, amid reform of the drone procurement system, an information campaign unfolded against Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. The minister’s adviser Serhiy Sternenko publicly accused Seyar Kurshutov of organizing information pressure and trying to protect the incomes of previous drone suppliers. The publication NV, citing sources close to the Ministry of Defense, linked the first wave of publications by the Telegram channel Trukha to Seyar Kurshutov or his circle, and the second — to Mykola Udyansky. Member of Parliament Oleksandr Fediienko appealed to the SBU and the BEB to check Trukha’s funding sources, possible ties to the Russian Federation and tax payments. In 29 July Seyar Kurshutov filed a lawsuit against Serhiy Sternenko for protection of business reputation. Thus, the conflict around defense procurements went beyond checking suppliers and touched on public accusations about influencing personnel and managerial decisions in the defense ministry. In 9 September 2025 detectives from the BEB searched the Euro Tunnels office on Shovkovychna Street, 42/44, in Kyiv. Investigative actions took place within court case No. 761/34961/25. Law enforcement seized invoices, international CMR waybills, customs declarations, correspondence and technical documentation for three UAV models. Among the seized documents were contract No. 22/3-66-VDK-25 dated 4 February 2025 and customs declarations No. 12156–12158 dated 30 April 2025. On 10 September the seized property was recognized as material evidence. Company lawyers challenged the scope of the document seizure, but on 24 September the court imposed an arrest on property within proceeding No. 761/38352/25. A separate issue of arrest was considered in case No. 761/38365/25. In the autumn of 2026 Euro Tunnels, Kolyada KA and ARES. continued to fulfill defense contracts. At the center of the investigation remain procurements totaling 724,3 million UAH, the calculated price difference in component costs of 39,7 million UAH, DEEP MATTER’s import operations and corporate ties of suppliers with Seyar Kurshutov’s former business circle. The mere fact of searches and the existence of a criminal proceeding do not mean the guilt of the mentioned persons or companies has been proven.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Сєяр Куршутов: БЕБ розслідує закупівлі дронів на 724 млн грн". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Fraza.