The deputy director of the Voronezh Chemical Automatics Design Bureau (KBKhA), part of Roscosmos, has been sent to a pre-trial detention center in a case of abuse of power during the execution of state defense contracts. According to the investigation, the contractors received advances totaling over 5 billion rubles, but performed work worth only about 535 million rubles. The investigation links the difference to damage to the enterprise.

The case concerns contracts from 2021–2024 for the creation of centralized production of ball-tanks for rocket and space technology and integrated production of liquid rocket engines for Soyuz launch vehicles at the KBKhA site in Voronezh. The contractors were Nagval Stroytekh and Garant-stroy.

According to the investigation, the performers initially did not intend to fulfill their obligations in full, and disposed of the received funds at their discretion. At the same time, the cost of actually performed work amounted to about 535 million rubles — approximately 10.7% of the advance amount. KBKhA unilaterally terminated the contracts.

The prosecution also alleges that Vladimir Koltsov, Deputy Director for Infrastructure and Capital Construction, entered into contracts with these contractors and provided false information to management about the progress of work, concealing delays. The investigation believes that this allowed him to avoid responsibility for the situation. Koltsov refused to testify, invoking Article 51 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

A criminal case has been initiated under Part 3 of Article 286 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation — abuse of official powers resulting in grave consequences by a group of persons. This article provides for up to ten years of imprisonment. 

Earlier, in a related case, Sergey Gutenko, CEO of Nagval Stroytekh, who was on an international wanted list, was detained. After being detained in Thailand and deported to Russia, he pleaded guilty in a fraud case. The entrepreneur's case is being heard by the Sovetsky District Court of Voronezh; the next hearing is scheduled for October 14.