We often write about what is happening in Ukrainian society. The topic is quite interesting already because exactly the same fate was intended for us in the very recent past. We had our own "pravoseki", and fascists, and separatists, and civil war … Even the state was governed in about the same way. After each decision, the governments waited for what Washington would say. Probably that is why the interest in the southern neighbor does not cool down. To the former brotherly country. This is probably why the shots from the destroyed villages and cities of Donbass are tearing their hearts out. Probably, that's why I don't want to believe the words of some friends and relatives from Ukraine …
Today the topic of conversation will be on a completely different plane. The "state organism" is somewhat akin to the human one. And it consists of many organs, the purpose of which is strictly functional. Food, movement, orientation in space and so on. Everything that makes us a certain biological species. And the country is the state. These bodies, more often than not, are not our merit. They were passed on to us by our ancestors. And we either develop what is necessary for life, or, conversely, we do so that the unnecessary is not passed on to our descendants.
The Ukrainian version of the state has exactly the same bodies as everyone else. Or, more precisely, it would probably be more correct to say, there were … The difference from most other countries is precisely in atavisms. Those bodies that the modern Ukrainian state considers unnecessary. Every feeling has its own organ. Nose - smell, skin - touch, ears - hearing, eyes - sight, tongue - taste … Anything, but not any. A sense of responsibility for the future, a sense of proportion, a sense of shame, and many of our other feelings, alas, do not have such an organ. They are simply there or not.
Hundreds of times in various media, readers have seen a comparison of the potentials that went to the former Soviet republics after the collapse of the USSR. If you wish, you can find a comparison for literally any area of life. From the defense industry to the quantity and quality of maternity hospitals … But today we are interested in the defense industry. More precisely, the export potential of the defense industry of Ukraine.
Interests from the point of view of Russia. Whatever one may say, the decades that have passed since the collapse have made us competitors in the arms market. Almost identical military industry, identical scientific and engineering personnel, identical "Soviet" ideas in promising developments … And therefore, when concluding contracts, we can not always rejoice in victories. Nobody hides that potentially, if the Maidan had not happened, Ukraine would have been a serious competitor for our military-industrial complex.
Probably one of the most indicative of Ukraine's "peremogs" that suddenly turned into "zrada" is the long-standing contract for the supply of armored personnel carriers BTR-4 to the Republic of Iraq. Let me remind you that the contract was signed by a subsidiary of the state company Ukrspetsexport - the State Enterprise Specialized Foreign Trade Firm Progress and the Main Directorate of Armaments and Support of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Iraq on September 25, 2009.
This is a really profitable and promising contract for Ukraine. Delivery of 420 armored personnel carriers with combat modules "Parus", components, simulators, services. At the stage of implementation alone, the country received $ 457.5 million. And what promising sales market has opened …
Only then, back in the "pre-maid" period, it became clear that Ukraine was not going to take advantage of the victory. It’s a paradox, but the contract was “quietly merged” almost immediately. There was a feeling that the Ukrainian side was acting deliberately to its own detriment. The deadlines were not kept, the quality of those cars that were nevertheless delivered to Iraq was at a terrifying level. Many probably remember the scandals of those times. A pick of the Iraqi and Ukrainian sides over the quantity and quality of armored personnel carriers. Out of 420, only 88 units were delivered for the period of the end of the contract. But of these already delivered armored personnel carriers, 42 were returned in January 2014. Hulls cracked! Old age is not a joy. Even for armored vehicles.
Just to understand the horror that the Iraqis experienced from the Ukrainian "new" armored personnel carriers, I will cite the inspection data of the delivered vehicles by Kharkov engineers. No comments.
Of the 88 new vehicles, only 56 were able to start. Of the 56 armored personnel carriers that had been started, 23 vehicles were started independently, without the help of mobile maintenance workshops. Of the 56 armored personnel carriers that were started, 34 were able to get under way. On 10 vehicles, the starters were faulty or were completely absent (!). 4 sights, 8 panoramic devices, 10 fire control system units, 6 cannons, 8 machine guns, 11 automatic heavy grenade launchers were found to be faulty. All (!) Batteries are recognized as faulty. Iraq independently replaced them with Chinese ones. Cracks in the armored hulls of the vehicles were fixed and photographed …
To calm the conscience of some particularly patriotic representatives of the manufacturing country, I inform you that all the returned armored personnel carriers were "put in full order" in a short time and sent to the ATO zone. Let's consider that Kharkiv citizens are able to do high-quality repairs …
Some readers are probably wondering why I would suddenly bring up an old story? Like "hushed up the case." At least there are no special screams about the breakdown of the contract. Iraq has no time for contracts today. There the war is in full swing. Mosul is being wiped off the face of the Earth. And in Ukraine, it seems, prosecutors are dealing with this case. Purely according to the "square scheme". An investigation is underway. How it goes on the murder of Buzina, on the murder of Sheremet, on the burning of people in Odessa, on the "Heavenly Hundred", on the crimes in Donbass … The Ukrainian prosecutor's office has perfectly mastered the principle of Khoja Nasreddin's work. "In 20 years, either I will die, or the emir will die, or the donkey will die …".
It didn't work out to "hush up". The fact is that Ukraine received an advance payment from Iraq!.. Not as much as we would like, but received. 91.5 million dollars. And this money was successfully "used" by numerous structures as payment for services. And now it is necessary to return. True, not all. Some 72 million dollars with a penny. But to return … And from which "pocket" to take?
If the case concerned, for example, Russia, then the usual scheme in such cases would operate. It would be enough to refer to the "evil supporters". Plundered, hid in your country. So, ask them from them. We have nothing to do with it. The Kiev court recognized … And the fact that the contract was guaranteed by the state of Ukraine does not bother anyone. Today it is a different state!
But Ukraine "stepped on the corn" of Iraq. And, therefore, to some extent, Europeans and Americans. Therefore, an ICD (imitation of seething activity) is urgently needed. To blame everything on A. Kovalenko (the former head of Ukrspetsexport), on Salamatin (his predecessor), on R. Romanov (the former head of Ukroboronprom, Pergudov (his predecessor), and even Yanukovych himself does not work. For example, the letter of guarantee, which was given by the government of Ukraine under President Yanukovych, was agreed upon in several ministries. And who in the government of Azarov was in charge of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade? And today is Ukraine?
I wonder who, according to the Ukrainian tradition, will be appointed as the new "sacred victim"? Today, while presumably, the prosecutor's office is starting an ICD. The investigators went to the Security Council, the Rada, and the cabinet of ministers. What for? Are they really hoping to find documents on "sawing" the money from the contract there? Or see recordings of hidden video cameras about the transfer of money? Let's see. But the thought of "sacred sacrifice" remains …
I began the article with an excursion into the "organism of the state." The main "organ" has always been and remains the brain. It is the brain that gives the orders. There is a brain, the function of which is to "humanize" the body. There is a spinal cord, which is responsible for the functioning of the body as a biological system. In Ukraine, it feels like both of these brains are "intertwined" into a single system. And they do everything and … nothing. Moreover, both brains obey … hands or another place. On which they sit most often.
This is scary. While there are those who, without hesitation, carry out criminal orders, there will always be someone who, again, without hesitation, will give such orders. Think about it, those who carry out criminal orders command those who give them. The circle is closed …
The death of the Ukrainian defense industry is the result of this symbiosis. The loss of the country's image in the eyes of potential buyers is not worth $ 72 million. And not even 100-200 million. The image is much more expensive. The Iraqi contract is only part of Ukraine's problematic foreign policy commitments. According to the most conservative estimates of Ukrainian sources, there are more than 60 such contracts today.
Is Ukraine's Export Potential in the Defense Industry Exhausted? Alas, judging by the latest contracts, which the Ukrainian media enthusiastically talked about, Ukrainian politicians, including the president, were broadcasting, yes. Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, United Arab Emirates, China … This is not a complete list of the "peremogs" of Ukrainian arms exporters. And what do all these "peremogs" connect with each other?
The contracts provide for the creation of jobs … in the countries that buy weapons. Ukraine remains "with its own people." And secondly, most importantly, the contracts provide for the free transfer of Ukrainian military technologies to buyers … Not those that Ukrainian science has already surpassed. And those that are relevant today. Those who can bring real income now …
The brains, of course, are not visible. But their absence is noticeable right away. Or is it just from the outside?
