Oleksandr Donets, the director of legendary Ukrainian aviation manufacturer Antonov, has been fired following an in-depth inspection of the company, UkrOboronProm, Ukraine’s state-run defense production giant, announced on June 9.
The inspection was carried out in late April and May at the instructions of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal after Ukraine’s SBU security service notified the government that it had received information that the management of Antonov may have “damaged the national interests of Ukraine via inactivity and consistently unsystematic managerial actions,” according to a statement.
UkrOboronProm did not specify concrete instances of wrongdoing allegedly committed by Donets.
“The inspection revealed numerous facts that might indicate ineffective management… the improper use of public properties, abuses and violations by the (enterprise’s) leadership that could lead to serious public losses and inflict considerable damage to the biggest aviation manufacturer of Ukraine,” the statement said.
UkrOboronProm said the inspection’s results, which might contain evidence of crimes committed by the company’s top management, were submitted to law enforcement for a criminal investigation.
Donets, 54, was appointed to head Antonov in May 2018.
According to UkrOboronProm, he has been temporarily replaced by Oleksandr Los, who is the company’s deputy director for design works.
The Antonov enterprise was established in late May 1947 by Oleg Antonov, the famous Soviet aviator and designer. Since 1952, it has been based in Kyiv and specialized in designing, building, and maintaining civilian- and military-grade airplanes.
Throughout its history, the company has constructed a wide range of legendary aircraft, including early Ant0nov An-2 and An-26 military airlifters, large An-124 Ruslan cargo planes, and An-225 Mriya — the largest and heaviest aircraft ever built.
The company, however, has suffered a severe crisis in the last years due to a lack of contracts, investments, and skilled personnel, which have left it on the brink of collapse.
In 2019, the company won a contract to build an Antonov An-178 aircraft for the Peruvian police. However, it continues to earn a major portion of its income by rendering international cargo transportation services.
In particular, foreign governments and companies frequently hire the Antonov An-125 Ruslan and An-225 Mriya to transport cargos of medical hardware and gear to fight COVID-19 from China to Europe and North America.
