The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Oct.24 published intercepted telephone conversations in which the President of Motor Sich confirmed supplying Russia with aircraft engines.
Vyacheslav Bohuslaiev, the head of Motor Sich, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of aircraft engines, was still supplying engines and spare parts for Russian attack helicopters well after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to the SBU.
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Bohuslaiev is now being detained on charges of treason.
In March of this year, the Russian occupiers attacked Motor Sich, which is headquartered in Zaporizhzhia. At that time, according to revealed telephone interceptions, Bohuslaiev, the head of the company, expressed support Russia’s actions. He justified Russia’s attack and expressed the hope that Vladimir Putin would continue his offensive, reflecting on the “Nazis” in Ukraine.
“If Putin finishes (the war), then the nationalists will kill us, damn it… Iskander, Iskander-M fell on the factory grounds. For us there’s absolutely no hard feelings. We understand everything,” he said in the published audio recording.
Also in March, Bohuslaiev tried to send aircraft engines to Russia and discussed delivery routes with Anatoly Sitnov, chairman of the board of directors of Motor Sich in Moscow. According to the conversation, the company was ready to supply engines to Russia through other countries, such as Croatia and Montenegro. Kazakh and Kyrgyz connections were also mentioned.
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In May, during a conversation with Pyotr Motrenko, former director of Russian helicopter manufacturer Rosvertol, Bohuslaiev admitted that he had supplied dozens of engines to the Russian Federation.
The investigation believes that Bohuslaiev and Motor Sich’s head of the department of foreign economic activities, whose name was not mentioned, illegally supplied military goods for Russian attack aircraft. Officials colluded with representatives of Rostec, a company close to the Kremlin and one of the leading producers of weapons for Russia.
Bohuslaiev and his accomplices established international channels by which they could deliver consignments of Ukrainian aircraft engines to Russia through countries in the Middle East, Europe, and East Asia.
The Russians used the equipment they obtained to repair and manufacture attack helicopters such as the Mi-8AMTSh-VN “Sapsan,” the KA-52 “Alligator,” and the Mi-28N “Night Hunter.” These aircraft were used en masse for the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Viacheslav Bohuslaiev, the head of Motor Sich, was detained for collaboration with the Russian Federation, Ukraine’s Security Service reported on Oct. 23.
As part of the criminal proceedings, the SBU is also investigating employees of Antonov State Enterprise for possible collaboration with Russia, whose troops destroyed the world’s largest An-225 Mriya aircraft. Special agents are establishing why the management of “Antonov” did not take all the necessary actions to protect the Mriya aircraft.
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