Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko rules out the possibility of selling defense enterprises in wartime.
While visiting Mykolaiv-based gas turbine plant Zorya-Mashproekt as part of a working trip to Mykolaiv on Monday, Poroshenko said when asked by a plant worker about his attitude to the privatization of the enterprise: “The state is a bad owner and a bad manager, but management of state-run enterprises has always been a source of corruption.”
According to him, taking into account this circumstance, today the Ukrainian government “with the participation of foreign advisers” is working out plans for privatization of state enterprises.
“But this does not apply to the defense industry,” Poroshenko said, explaining: “It would be irresponsible amid war to sell enterprises that ensure the state’s defense capability.”
Poroshenko also recalled that Zorya-Mashproekt is currently part of state-run Concern Ukroboronprom. “The privatization of defense facilities is prohibited by the Ukrainian legislation. Period,” he said.
