Leonid Kuchma arms trafficking scandal

From 2000 to 2004, the government of Ukraine, in particular President Leonid Kuchma, was involved in widespread arms trafficking to several countries, including Ba'athist Iraq, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Iran and China, many of which were subject to international sanctions. Among the weapons sold by the Ukrainian government were Kolchuga passive sensors, S-300 missile systems and Kh-55 cruise missiles. The weapons were trafficked through various intermediaries, including private companies and individual arms traffickers (namely Leonid Minin).

After being revealed in 2002, the scandal had diplomatic and political reverberations, resulting in an unsuccessful effort to impeach Kuchma. Following the Orange Revolution and Kuchma's removal from power, the Ukrainian government admitted that the illegal arms sales had occurred and arrested or indicted six people, trying them in a closed-door case.