A new one shakes the Russian Ministry of Defense. An investigation has revealed that a contract to supply 170 tons of canned food destined for the end up providing very low quality products that They barely contained meatdespite having been purchased as “premium” category foods.
The analyzes carried out on the preserves detected the presence of ground skins, cartilage, starch and carrageenan, while the case has led to an investigation for alleged bribery that affects both military officials and managers of the supplying company.
A 170 ton contract under suspicion
The contract had a duration of two years and was valued at about 700 million rubles (almost 8 million euros)as reported The Moscow Times. y .
The products were sold as premium preserves to feed Russian soldiers deployed in Ukraine. However, subsequent analyzes concluded that they contained a very small amount of meat and were made mainly from byproducts such as skins, cartilage, starch and carrageenan.
Colonel Viktor Tarazievich, head of the food department of the Russian Ministry of Defense, and managers of a canning factory, suspected of having accepted bribes related to the award of the contract.
A price much higher than the real value
The figures reflect the magnitude of the alleged fraud. With this amount of 700 million rubles and 170 tons of preserves, the cost exceeded 4,000 rubles per kilograma price well above the market value of similar products made with quality meat.
The investigation maintains that the actual contents of the cans did not at all justify the price paid by the Ministry of Defense.
Logistical problems since the start of the war
The scandal comes in a context that they have accompanied the Russian army practically since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine.
During the first months of the war, troops relied primarily on individual dry rations. Subsequently, the Ministry of Defense began to recover field kitchens to serve hot meals closer to the front, a decision motivated by continuing supply problems.
The defeats suffered in areas such as Izyum, the Donets River and Kherson put revealed the deficiencies of the logistics systemwhich affected not only the supply of fuel and ammunition, but also the feeding of the troops.
A questioned supply model
Before the invasion, a good part of military food was managed by private companies contracted by the Ministry of Defense.
These companies They prepared meals in times of peace and managed the canteens of military basesbut the system showed important limitations when it had to adapt to a prolonged war.
According to the published analysis, during the conflict quality controls were relaxed to speed up contracting and respond to increased demand, which would have made it easier to award large contracts without the usual supervision.
It is not the first case of corruption
The case is reminiscent of other recent scandals within the Russian Defense Ministry. Among them is General Dmitry Bulgakov, former deputy minister responsible for logistics until 2022, investigated for fraud related to military supplies and later convicted of allegedly participating in the purchase of low-quality food at inflated prices.
Even years before the war in Ukraine, similar episodes had already emerged. One of the best known involved a military unit in the Russian Far East, where an investigation discovered that dog food had been used in a goulash served to soldiers.
Common complaints near the front
Although garrisons far from the front line usually receive menus that meet the caloric requirements established by the Russian Ministry of Defense, the situation changes near the front.
During these years, numerous soldiers and war correspondents have denounced the limited variety of meals, the absence of fresh foodthe receipt of canned goods of dubious quality and even expired products.
Some soldiers have also stated that, on certain occasions, they have been forced to buy food with their own money to complement rations initially designed for short-term operations and not for a conflict that has already exceeded four years.
An unusual complaint
One of the most striking aspects of the case is the origin of the complaint. According to published information, the investigation did not begin after complaints from soldiers or specialized journalists, but after commanders responsible for daily supply transfer their suspicions to the military prosecutor’s office.
This fact is unusual within the Russian Armed Forces and could reflect both a growing unrest among those responsible for logistics deployed on the front and greater internal pressure to pursue cases of corruption related to the war effort.
