The transfer of powers by the State Aviation Service to accompany repair documentation for Mi-8 helicopters to the foreign company AAL Group Ltd, which is associated with the Russian defense-industrial complex, may violate sanctions legislation and pose a threat to Ukraine. Former Deputy Prosecutor General, lawyer Oleksiy Bahanets, spoke about the possible consequences and the specifics of law enforcement response in such cases in an exclusive comment for UNN.
Details
In Ukraine, the repair and modernization of Mi-8 helicopters are possible only with the approval of the repair documentation manager. Due to the fact that Russian enterprises are the manufacturers of these helicopters, the State Aviation Service, headed by Oleksandr Bilchuk, had to determine an authorized manager in Ukraine to ensure the continuation of work.
The Security Service of Ukraine emphasized the need to choose a state enterprise to avoid risks. However, instead of a state structure, the State Aviation Service chose the foreign private company AAL Group Ltd.
According to open sources, it became known that this company has certification from Russian factories and potentially cooperates with Russian enterprises through trade chains. In addition, in 2024, it announced a strategic partnership with the South African Paramount Group - a company that journalists associate with the supply of equipment to the Russian Federation, which was subsequently used against Ukraine.
In this context, former Deputy Prosecutor General, lawyer Oleksiy Bahanets, notes that such decisions by state bodies can have serious consequences.
"If there is indeed a fact of intentional preference given to enterprises associated with the business and economy of the aggressor country, this can be qualified as actions aimed at undermining the national security of our state. Of course, this is the competence of the Security Service of Ukraine. Therefore, this should be a reason, if not for registration and pre-trial investigation, then at least for counterintelligence measures," said former Deputy Prosecutor General, lawyer Oleksiy Bahanets.
Detailing the security risks, it should be noted that the transfer of powers to AAL Group Ltd carries the risk of transferring sensitive technical information to the aggressor country, the danger of establishing control or sabotage through access to repair processes, and the formation of strategic dependence of Ukraine's defense complex on a structure associated with the Russian Federation.
Against the backdrop of international partners consistently imposing sanctions against Russia and providing comprehensive support to Ukraine, the steps taken by Ukrainian state structures that open access to interaction with Ukraine and even control over part of the market to a potentially pro-Russian company seem at least controversial.
In addition, such decisions can be regarded as a violation of sanctions legislation, because in fact, a state body legitimizes a company with a Russian trace. This undermines trust in state policy in the field of security and defense, reduces the authority of Ukrainian enterprises, complicates cooperation with international partners, and creates the risk of losing decades of accumulated competencies in the field of technical support for Mi-8.
In such a situation, a proper response from law enforcement agencies and special services is indeed particularly important. At the same time, Oleksiy Bahanets explains that the Security Service's reaction may not be immediately public, but this does not mean a lack of action.
"This does not necessarily mean that they should immediately inform about any measures, for example, of an operational nature. This is a state secret, and it cannot be disclosed (...) If we approach it in a state-like manner and in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution and laws of the country, then this is information that can be made public when there is a result - a detected and documented fact, for example, a registered criminal proceeding," explained Oleksiy Bahanets.
Recall
The decision of the State Aviation Service also caused a strong reaction among parliamentarians. Thus, People's Deputy Mykhailo Tsymbaliuk called it "economically inexpedient and unacceptable," especially in wartime, when Ukraine has certified companies with all the necessary competencies.
People's Deputy and member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence Fedir Venislavskyi emphasized that the relevant decision not only may contain very significant risks for the security and defense sector, but it is generally anti-state. The parliamentarian called for its cancellation and the removal of Oleksandr Bilchuk from the post of head of the State Aviation Service of Ukraine. He has already raised these issues with the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prime Minister.
In turn, People's Deputy Yuriy Zdebskyi insists that due to public resonance and security concerns, the decisions should be thoroughly analyzed and given a legal assessment by the relevant bodies - the SBU and the National Police.