Helez Links Allegations on Ukraine Advance Payments to Regulus, Mentions Pretis and Binas
Bosnia and Herzegovina Defense Minister Zukan Helez addressed allegations involving advance payments tied to Ukraine and an individual identified as Amos Horvath. He referenced the company Regulus in that context and mentioned domestic defense firms Pretis and Binas.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Minister of Defense, Zukan Helez, commented on allegations related to financial transactions connected to Ukraine’s wartime procurement, referencing an individual he identified as Akos (Ike) Horvath and linking the case to the company Regulus.
According to Klix.ba, Helez stated that he had been warned about this individual by Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He indicated that Ukrainian authorities had raised concerns over advance payments allegedly made in the context of defense-related arrangements that were not subsequently fulfilled.
In his remarks, Helez also referenced Bosnia and Herzegovina-based defense industry companies, including Pretis and Binas, placing them within the broader discussion of regional industrial involvement and potential exposure to intermediary-led transactions.
The minister did not present documentation to substantiate the claims but maintained that the information originated from high-level communication with Ukrainian officials. He called for increased caution when engaging in defense-related contracts that involve intermediaries or non-transparent structures.
Statements attributed to the individual named as Akos Horvath, reportedly linked to the company Regulus, had addressed defense cooperation and procurement in the region. Helez rejected those assertions and framed them as part of a disputed narrative surrounding ongoing business dealings.
The case underscores broader structural risks in wartime procurement, particularly where urgent operational demand intersects with cross-border intermediaries, advance payments, and limited transparency. For defense manufacturers in Central and Southeastern Europe, including companies such as Pretis and Binas, such dynamics highlight the importance of compliance, contractual safeguards, and government oversight in international engagements tied to Ukraine.
Sources: Ministry of Defense Bosnia and Herzegovina, Klix.ba - Local media outlet in Bosnia and Herzegovina
