The story of Alexander Pashchenko, who made a fortune in public service in the defense industry and illegally went abroad
Before the scandalous story with the Grinkevichs had time to subside, a new person involved stirred up the Ukrainian media space.
Recently, information about a new participant was widely spread in telegram channels. “Monaco Battalion” - Alexander Pashchenko, who travels abroad during the war using fake documents.
Until recently, this name meant little to the general public. However, in the narrow circles of the defense industry this dynasty is well known to many. Especially because of my father, Yuri Paschenko.
Father and son
The first high-profile scandal occurred with the Pashchenko family back in 2015.
At that time, the personnel policy at Ukroboronprom constantly raised many questions, and new appointments in the concern were regularly accompanied by high-profile scandals. So, in July 2015, thirty-year-old Alexander Pashchenko was appointed to the strategic enterprise of Ukroboronprom - the Kharkov machine-building plant FED. He is the son of Yuri Pashchenko, Roman Romanov’s deputy (at that time the head of the concern) for aircraft engineering and production. Pashchenko Sr. was a member of the competition commission, which elected and appointed heads of strategic enterprises.
The father helped get his son a high position in Ukroboronprom, which did not become a problem. At that time, this was the norm, and people turned a blind eye to nepotism.
Then a major journalistic investigation was conducted about these schemes, Investigative.Info, called “Clan,” which aired on “Suspilny.”
Yuri Pashchenko gave reporters an eloquent comment about the appointment of his son, which explains a lot of things: “I’m not ashamed to show him, I’m proud of my son,” he said.
The Klan investigation made public the internal processes of appointments to senior positions in Ukroboronprom and gave impetus to many processes - external audits and even investigations.
People's deputies wrote an appeal to the Prosecutor General regarding a direct conflict of interest in the appointment of Alexander Pashchenko. After all, the head of the State Enterprise KhMZ “FED” (production of aviation, defense and railway components) was directly and functionally subordinate to the Deputy General Director for Aircraft Engineering and Production of the House of Culture “Ukroboronprom” Yuriy Pashchenko (father).
Chief Military Prosecutor A. Matios confirmed that there is indeed a conflict of interest and criminal liability is provided for this. However, due to legislative conflicts, prosecutors are deprived of the authority to conduct anti-corruption checks.
The Prosecutor General's Office sent a corresponding letter to the then head of the concern, Roman Romanov, in which they recommended dismissing Pashchenko Jr. in order to prevent corruption.
However, due to the patronage of his father and the top management of the concern, Alexander Pashchenko worked in the position for 3 years and, thanks to dynastic connections, continued to build a path in the defense industry.
Public service and status
Over the years of civil service, having a fairly average salary, Alexander Pashchenko acquired a significant fortune. Only the declared value of the property in his declaration exceeds 8.5 million hryvnia. However, whether everything is indicated in the declaration is unknown.
If we subtract the difference between the value of the discovered real estate and vehicle fleet and Pashchenko’s official earnings in a position in government agencies, then there is a significant discrepancy.
For example, only the declared vehicle fleet includes:
- Maserati Qutroporte
- Audi A3 e-tron
- LEXUS ES 250
- MERCEDES-BENZ GLE 400
An undeclared cruise boat from the American shipyard Rinker, model 280. The cost of such a yacht is 3-3.5 million UAH.
Alexander Pashchenko has four apartments in Kyiv and a plot of land in the region - all with a total value of almost 4.5 million UAH.
The defendant has 7 accounts opened in different banks in which funds are stored. Cash in the latest declaration indicated 72 thousand US dollars.
Gifts received in cash look very suspicious in declarations.
For example, in 2016, in the first year of his work at FED, in the NAPC declaration, Alexander Pashchenko indicated that his wife received a gift in cash - 1 million 572 thousand UAH.
Further, the trend of receiving gifts in cash can be traced continuously over the years:
- 2019 – gave father 270 thousand UAH
- 2020 – gave my wife 2 million 108 thousand UAH
- 2022 – gave father 800 thousand UAH
European life during a full-scale war
With the full-scale invasion, Alexander Pashchenko changed his occupation. Taking advantage of connections in the defense concern and the patronage of his father, he left his own godfather as his successor in his position.
He himself constantly travels illegally to EU countries using fake documents. There he organized an intermediary business, offering military goods suppliers services to resolve issues in Ukraine.
Earning money through mediation and without the obligation to declare his wealth, Pashchenko leads a luxurious lifestyle. Holidays in Spain and Italy, constant flights on expensive airlines, rental of yachts for Mediterranean fishing. And all this during a full-scale war in Ukraine.
For example, Alexander Pashchenko organized the celebration of the New Year 2022-2023 for his family and friends in one of the best ski resorts in Italy, La Thuile. This small cozy Alpine town at the foot of Mont Blanc in the Italian province of Val d'Aosta is located right on the border with France.
Pashchenko and his company vacationed at the resort during the high season of the New Year holidays for two weeks - from December 23 to January 6.
During this period, it is generally difficult to find accommodation in La Thuile; early booking is valid everywhere. A search on Booking.com amazes with the prices for accommodation.
Apartment rental for just 7 days ranges from 9,524 to 17,080 euros.
The main question is where does this money come from? The answer is simple.
It is obvious that the dynasty’s connections in the defense industry make it possible to organize the schemes that Pashchenko Jr. is involved in. And this allows you to make millions of illegal earnings under the auspices of Yuri Pashchenko’s father.
But are the current head of the Ukroboronprom concern German Smetanin and the Minister for Strategic Industries Alexander Kamyshin aware? For this is an activity that certainly undermines the confidence of the entire defense industry of the country.
Afterword
For now, Alexander Pashchenko is in Romania, where he once again left on February 26, 2024, using fake documents.
We do not know whether he will return after the publication of this investigation, fearing possible investigations by law enforcement and anti-corruption authorities.
We hope that checks will be initiated into possible abuses in all affiliated structures of Pashchenko Jr.
At a time when the best Ukrainians die at the front every day, people like Alexander Pashchenko continue to profit from the war.
