Ukraine Charges Former Defense Engineer with Treason for Aiding Russia's Military-Industrial Complex

The Ukrainian security service, SBU, has charged in absentia a former defense engineer, Oleh Borsuk, with treason for allegedly helping Russia target Ukrainian cities by developing navigation systems for cruise and ballistic missiles. Borsuk, a 61-year-old Ukrainian national, fled to Russia in 2009 after resigning from a defense plant in Ukraine. He later became the deputy general director of a Moscow-based design bureau, "Navis," a major player in Russia's military-industrial complex. Under his leadership, the company produced nearly 3,200 satellite navigation units in 2023, including those for Iskander tactical missile systems, which are used in Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. These attacks have caused devastating damage, including a strike on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital in Kyiv, which killed two adults and injured over 50 people.

Key Takeaways:

• Oleh Borsuk, a 61-year-old Ukrainian national, has been charged with treason in absentia by the Ukrainian security service (SBU) for allegedly helping Russia develop navigation systems for cruise and ballistic missiles.
• Borsuk fled to Russia in 2009 and later became the deputy general director of the Moscow-based design bureau "Navis," a major player in Russia's military-industrial complex.
• In 2023, under Borsuk's leadership, "Navis" produced nearly 3,200 satellite navigation units, including those for Iskander tactical missile systems.
• These systems are used in Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, resulting in devastating damage and loss of life.
• The SBU has charged Borsuk with treason under Ukraine's Criminal Code for crimes committed under martial law.
• Borsuk's company, "Navis," has been involved in the development and modernization of satellite guidance systems (GPS/GLONASS) used in Iskander tactical missiles.
• The Kh-101, Kh-59, and Kalibr missiles, which are used in Russian airstrikes, have been responsible for multiple devastating attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Statistics:

• In 2023, nearly 3,200 satellite navigation units were produced by "Navis," including those for Iskander tactical missile systems.
• The Kh-101 cruise missile was used in a strike on the Okhmatdyt children hospital in Kyiv, killing two adults and injuring over 50 people.
• The attack on the Okhmatdyt children's hospital was one of the deadliest, with two adults killed and over 50 injured, including children.
• On June 17, a massive missile and drone assault on Kremenchuk killed 30 people and injured 172 others.
• The direct hit on a residential building by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile caused the complete collapse of an entire section of the nine-story building.

Sources:

• SBU
• Yurii Ihnat, Ukraine's Air Force spokesperson
• Criminal Code of Ukraine