Smear campaigns typical Russian tool to shove Ukraine from various markets

A number of Croatian media outlets, citing “anonymous but well informed” sources claim more issues have arisen in relation to Ukraine-supplied MiG fighter jets, while the Ukrainian supplier, Ukrspecexport, assures that there have been no complaints and explains the situation with the ongoing smear campaign to discredit Ukraine as part of Russia’s unfair competition toolkit in the military equipment repair market.

Croatia’s Jutarni List recently published a report that the Croatian Ministry of Defense demands that Ukraine take back earlier supplied MiG-21 fighter jets that appeared to be faulty and provide fully operating ones instead, LB.ua reports.

Read alsoSerbia to get Russian fighter jets amid Montenegro intention to join NATOThis is about the contract of 2014, when Croatia purchased five MiGs from Ukraine. It had earlier been reported that the aircraft’s serial numbers were altered, and that they were assembled from Bulgarian body, Algerian wings, and engines without a clear origin.

It is important to note that the long-smoldering row was actively reignited by Russian and Serbian media, shortly after the visit of Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak to Croatia. Apparently, Russia could not just sit back and watch Ukraine sign agreements on deepening military-technical cooperation, as well as the joint exercises with a NATO member state. At the same time, Belgrade was enraged with the fact that Ukraine would be adopting Croatia’s experience of the war with Serbia, in particular for the sake of the reintegration of the occupied territories. Therefore, the scandal with Ukrainian fighters bears signs of a smear campaign.

Read alsoBalkanInsight: "Serbs flocked to help Russian 'brothers'"In addition, Serbia and Russia have another common motive: in October 2016, Serbia received six decommissioned MiG-29s from Russia, which were delivered in spare parts. Once reassembled, it appeared that the old aircraft were unsuitable for flights. The ongoing repair works will cost the country a total of EUR 180 million, testifying to a serious blunder on the part of Russian suppliers.

At the same time, representatives of the Ukrainian defense industry believe that they are dealing with unfair competition in the field.

According to the press service of Ukrspetsexport, Croatia invited them to take part in a tender for the overhaul of another ten Mi-171Sh helicopters owned by the Croatian defense ministry. Despite the fact that Ukrspetsexport filed paperwork required and stuck to all formalities, while Croatian experts verified the company’s capacities to perform overhaul, the contract was signed with Helicopters of Russia, according to Defender.hr. And that is despite EU sanctions on Russia and despite the fact that Ukrspecexport is a much more experienced company in overhauling this type of aircraft.

In late January 2018, Ukrinmash director Serhiy Slyusarenko said that Russia was taking measures to shove Ukrainian enterprises from international markets, where the interests of Ukraine and Russia clash in the struggle for contracts related to the repair and modernization of Soviet-made military equipment.

Read alsoUkraine's company wins tender to supply components for T-72 tanksAccording to Slyusarenko, the Ukrainian side needs consolidated action by diplomatic, military and trade missions in their cooperation with foreign partners to prove groundlessness of Russia’s accusations.

However, in order not to give ill-wishers extra reasons for scandals, Ukraine should definitely avoid possible machinations.