The Kremlin is changing tactics: how Russia is trying to drive a wedge between Ukraine and the West

Recently, the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine stated that Russia has prepared a plan for the internal destabilization of the situation in our country and the undermining of foreign support. The Russians are clearly aware of the position of Western partners regarding corruption scandals, and therefore try to use all available means to undermine trust in Ukraine. In this context, one of the enemy's main "trump cards" could be an information attack on the defense sector. Cooperation with partners in this area is vital for Ukraine, and the attitude of Europeans, in particular, toward potential manifestations of corruption in it is very sensitive. UNN investigated whether pressure on defense companies could be part of the Kremlin's actions. 

The Kremlin's goals have not changed 

Russia seeks Ukraine's defeat—the enemy's goals remain unchanged. And the destabilization of the internal situation through the discredit of the authorities or the strengthening of distrust logically fits into the scenario of the information war waged by the enemy, the consequences of which could ultimately convert into a weakening of partner support and Ukraine's defense capabilities. 

Definitely, we must understand that the Russian Federation may be interested in influencing the internal situation in Ukraine, including through various types of destabilizing factors, and thus hope that our Western partners will support us less. After all, it is now critically important for the Russian Federation to do everything possible so that Ukraine not only cannot counter Russian aggression but also suffers defeat 

Support for the Ukrainian defense industry has always been a sensitive topic for partners. And the Russians seek to take advantage of this. Here, Ukraine faces a difficult dilemma: silencing facts of corruption is a path to nowhere, but overly meticulous public attention is playing into the enemy's hands. 

Indeed, international partners check the aid provided to Ukraine quite strictly and thoroughly, and such scandals can affect further funding. But at the same time, it should be understood that it is definitely necessary to conduct the most thorough and transparent investigation of certain cases 

In this context, Ukraine needs to work systematically and carefully with Western partners—not by silencing or hiding information, but by conveying objective facts. After all, every scandal surrounding the Ukrainian defense industry is a threat to the disruption of cooperation. 

In this context, the case of the Fire Point company is indicative. According to Piotr Kulpa, former secretary of the Polish delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and head of the Republican Foundation of Ukraine, the company became a victim of a game of destruction aimed at undermining Ukraine's defense capabilities. 

Target for destruction 

Piotr Kulpa emphasizes the need to separate the existing corruption system in Ukraine from the attempt to strike at the Ukrainian defense industry and the key firm Fire Point. Kulpa believes that the hearings held within the framework of the parliamentary temporary commission of inquiry confirmed that there is no corruption in the actions of the company's representatives. 

Today I read in the press of various countries specifically about corruption ties, and they write specifically about the Fire Point firm. Why? Because Fire Point is the main competitor for the USA, as well as for many European firms, and they want to either destroy it or buy it. And the system in which NABU has been pursuing an active policy since last summer aimed at weakening the reputation and destroying the Fire Point firm. There is a price for the actions of the so-called anti-corruption activists—it simply destroys trust and blocks the possibility of scaling Ukrainian military products in Europe. And this happens at the cost of the lives of Ukrainian citizens 

He emphasizes that currently, Fire Point is Ukraine's main trump card in negotiations with European partners, as it is their products that form the basis of the project to create a pan-European missile shield, and it was this firm that helped bring the war to Russian territory. 

Dragging the manufacturer of "Flamingo" and drones for strikes on enemy territory into a corruption scandal looks like a very dangerous precedent that creates a toxic environment around the entire defense sector and turns into an attempt to deter partners from cooperation. The scandal being fanned around the manufacturer, rather than an official, strengthens arguments against participating in joint defense projects, such as the aforementioned pan-European missile shield. And it seems that stopping cooperation with partners is one of the goals of those who want the corruption scandal to gain momentum. Proof of this is the fact that the Anti-Corruption Action Center sent letters to embassies with the company's design documentation accompanied by discrediting information, as stated by Fire Point founder and chief designer Denys Shtilerman. 

A serious campaign is being waged because everyone dislikes that Ukraine is becoming a subject. In general, I believe that the "Mindich case," which is being spun now, or rather was being spun then, the main target there was precisely Fire Point, to prevent the production of missiles 

He points to an interesting detail: energy expert Viktor Kurtev highlighted the topic of corruption in Energoatom for years and even filed statements with NABU—but they were not interested in this topic. 

When did this "Mindich case" appear? When these so-called demands from Vitkoff and Dmitriev appeared, exactly then. They failed to "nail" the company, and the company is becoming stronger. First, there is a campaign that it's expensive, then that the missiles don't fly, then they fly but poorly, then not bad but not enough. And so on. Next, another order, when it became obvious that Ukraine was going on the offensive—they are engaged in "middle strikes," more than half of the strikes on Russian territory are products of the Fire Point company. And, of course, this causes fury in the so-called anti-corruption infrastructure 

According to the political scientist, a targeted sabotage campaign is being conducted, in which not only Russia but also some Western partners may be interested to some extent, as Ukraine will no longer need to ask where and what to strike on enemy territory. 

The fight against corruption is necessary, but it must not turn into a weapon in the hands of the enemy.