Ukraine says it has uncovered major arms corruption
Ukraine’s security service has announced the discovery of corruption in a military arms purchase valued at approximately $40 million (£31 million).
According to the SBU, five high-ranking individuals within the defense ministry and from an arms supplier are under investigation.
In August 2022, defense officials reportedly finalized a contract for the acquisition of 100,000 mortar shells. Despite the advance payment, including some funds transferred internationally, no arms were ever delivered.
Corruption remains a significant obstacle in Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union.
The SBU’s investigation has revealed involvement from officials within the Ministry of Defence and executives of the arms supplier, Lviv Arsenal, who allegedly misappropriated nearly 1.5 billion hryvnias during the shell purchase.
The SBU pointed out that despite the arms contract being finalized six months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, not a single artillery shell reached its destination.
One suspect was apprehended while attempting to leave Ukraine and is presently in custody, as per the SBU.
Ukraine’s prosecutor general has confirmed the seizure of the stolen funds, which will be returned to the defense budget.
Corruption issues have plagued Ukraine for an extended period.
President Volodymyr Zelensky made combating corruption a key focus upon assuming office in 2019.
These recent allegations emerge amidst opposition from Republicans in the United States against President Joe Biden’s efforts to increase aid to Ukraine.
In August, President Zelensky dismissed all officials responsible for military recruitment, aiming to eliminate a system where some individuals were exempt from conscription.
Ukraine was ranked 116th out of 180 countries in a 2022 corruption perceptions index by campaigning and research organization Transparency International.
But anti-corruption efforts are beginning to make a difference. It is one of only 10 countries steadily climbing Transparency International’s ranking, rising 28 places in a decade.
