Against the backdrop of the ongoing corruption scandal in Ukraine’s energy sector, known as Operation Midas, a new diplomatic controversy is unfolding on the international stage involving a Ukrainian aviation company operating under contracts to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).
South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Mandey Semaya Kumba held a briefing for diplomats in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. He said that four aircraft linked to UNMISS had been grounded by authorities following intelligence findings. He noted that the investigation had been completed and the results had been communicated to senior United Nations officials and diplomats representing various countries.
“Through our intelligence, we found that two UNMISS aircraft were equipped with Intelligence Surveillance Recorders and missile protection systems without disclosure to the government,” Semaya said.
“We also found that two other aircraft were engaged in smuggling natural resources, namely sandalwood, between South Sudan and Sudan,” he added.
At this briefing, South Sudan’s top diplomat emphasized that, according to independent media reports, allegations relate to specific aircraft operators and not to the UN mission as an institution. Minister Semaya did not name the specific operators involved. However, he did name the aircraft call signs: UNO-570P, UNO-571P, UNO-535P, and UNO-536P.
These call signs can easily be identified as four helicopters operated by Roman Mileshko’s Ukrainian aviation company H3Operations. In the State Civil Aircraft Register of Ukraine, these aircraft are registered with the following registration numbers: UR-HZB (UNO-570P), UR-HZD (UNO-571P), UR-HZA (UNO-535P), and UR-HZO (UNO-536P).
It appears that the Ukrainian aviation company H3Operations is using intelligence and surveillance systems in South Sudan without disclosure to the South Sudanese authorities, and its aircraft have been involved in sandalwood smuggling between Sudan and South Sudan. As is widely known, this is the world’s most expensive timber, and its export is prohibited by law.
What is reported about H3Operations in Ukraine?
Ukrainian MPs Ihor Kopytin and Fedir Venislavskyi are associated with H3Operations, and the beneficial owner is Roman Mileshko, who has close ties with these politicians.
These two Ukrainian MPs, Ihor Kopytin and Fedir Venislavskyi, sent letters to the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine at least twice through the office of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, thus lobbying for the interests of H3Operations. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, they exerted pressure on the then-head of the State Aviation Administration, Oleksandr Bilchuk, to speed up the registration of the Mil-171 helicopters of H3Operations. Screenshots of both letters appear in journalistic materials.
Ukrainian media also reported signs of possible tax evasion in the activities of the companies controlled by aviation businessman Roman Mileshko. The companies in question are H3Operations and Constanta, which allegedly paid their employees official salaries eight times lower than the actual amount. This scheme could have allowed concealing significant sums from official taxation. Experts estimate the losses at $10 million.
The Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine has launched a tax evasion investigation. This was officially confirmed to journalists by the Bureau in its letter.
The Foreign Minister of South Sudan stated that this case was being treated as a “serious national security issue” in the country. Such reckless behavior of Ukrainian air operator H3Operations further complicates Ukraine’s already strained diplomatic relations on the African continent.
The resonance of the case can hardly be overestimated. The fact of an international investigation into the smuggling of natural resources and the use of espionage equipment by a Ukrainian aviation company operating under UNMISS contracts casts a shadow on Ukraine’s public image in the African region.
