Director General of Kharkiv Tractor Plant, who was appointed in March of this year, has been preparing for dismantling the foundry equipment in order to export to Russia.

He was informed that he is suspected of committing acts of sabotage and has been put on a wanted list, the press center of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) reported on Saturday.

"The new CEO of the company, who was appointed in March 2016, on the instruction of Russian owners of Kharkiv Tractor Plant, has prepared the foundry equipment for dismantling for its further export to Russia. The technical and design documents for the plant's produce were prepared for shipment abroad," the SBU press center reported.

In addition, the CEO of the company was preparing to lay off nearly a third of all employees.

"The implementation of these plans would lead to a complete cessation of the activities of Kharkiv Tractor Plant, which was scheduled to get the order of the Defense Ministry of Ukraine," the SBU said.

After the intervention of the Security Service, the property and accounts of the plant have been arrested, which helped prevent the loss of production equipment and unique design documentation, as well as to prevent the dismissal of nearly a thousand skilled workers.

The director general of the enterprise is charged with committing offenses under Part 1, Article 14 (preparation of a crime) and Article 113 (sabotage) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, he has been put on a wanted list. A court issued permission for his arrest and delivery to court where preventive measure will be chosen for him, the SBU press center reported.

The report did not specify the name of the director general.

As reported, in March 2016 by a decision of the supervisory board of Kharkiv Tractor Plant, Andriy Koval, who led the plant in 2006-2007, was appointed director general.

The public joint-stock company Kharkiv Tractor Plant is one of the largest tractor producers in Ukraine. It was founded in 1931.

In late April 2016, Ukrainian businessman Oleksandr Yaroslavsky at the suggestion of Austrian businessman Siegfried Wolf, investor in Kharkiv Tractor Plant, bought a controlling stake in the company.