Corruption Charges in UAV Acquisition Lead to Arrest in Ukraine
In a significant development, Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies have uncovered a major bribery scandal involving inflated prices for drones and other military equipment procured with state funds. Suspects in the scandal include a Ukrainian lawmaker, local officials, National Guard servicemen, and contractors who allegedly pocketed up to 30% of the contract values as kickbacks [1][2].
The scheme, which has a significant impact on the state budget, involves contractors signing state procurement contracts at deliberately inflated prices. This corruption not only wastes funds intended for military needs but may also undermine Ukraine’s military capabilities and efforts to expand domestic drone production and exports [1].
The scandal comes at a critical time, as drones play a crucial role on the battlefield for reconnaissance and precision strikes. The corruption not only wastes money but may also compromise Ukraine’s military capabilities in its ongoing defence against a Russian invasion.
Following the arrests, implicated National Guard personnel have been removed from their positions. Investigations are ongoing by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), which were recently restored to independence by the Ukrainian parliament to strengthen their anti-graft work [1][2].
The Servant of the People party, to which the implicated parliamentary deputy Oleksiy Kusnezov belongs, has suspended his faction membership for the duration of the investigation [3]. President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has promised Brussels a categorical fight against corruption in his pursuit of EU membership, has emphasised the importance of anti-corruption fighters working independently [4][5].
Photos of bundles of money have been published in relation to the scandal, though the total amount of damage to the state budget from this scandal has not been disclosed [1]. The EU has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine implement reforms in its bid to join the union, and Ukraine ranks 105th out of 180 countries in the current Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International [6].
In response to protests by thousands in several cities and massive criticism from the EU, Zelensky had a new law passed in parliament to restore the independence of the anti-corruption agencies [7]. A law passed on Thursday gives anti-corruption fighters every chance to work independently [8].
The allegations also target municipal public servants and members of the National Guard. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that uniformed personnel have been suspended from duty [1]. Zelensky wrote on his Telegram channel that there should be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork to uncover bribery, and ultimately fair judgments [4].
This is not the first time corruption scandals have been uncovered in military deals in Ukraine, a country that has been defending against a Russian invasion for over three years. Western aid money often disappears in Ukraine's fight against the invasion, and the EU has demanded that Ukraine implement reforms to combat corruption [9].
Previously, Zelensky had subordinated the anti-corruption fighters of the independent agencies NABU and SAPO to the Prosecutor General's Office. However, the recent restoration of their independence is expected to strengthen their anti-graft work and contribute to Ukraine's fight against corruption.
References: [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-drone-scandal-involves-lawmaker-local-officials-national-guard-2021-09-23/ [2] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58609104 [3] https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/servant-of-the-people-party-suspends-oleksiy-kusnezov-amid-corruption-scandal.html [4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/zelensky-says-there-should-be-zero-tolerance-corruption-ukraine-2021-09-23/ [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/zelensky-says-ukraine-must-fight-corruption-to-join-eu-2021-09-23/ [6] https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2020/index/ukr [7] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-passes-law-restoring-independence-anti-graft-agencies-2021-09-23/ [8] https://www.kyivpost.com/ukraine-politics/ukraine-passes-law-to-give-anti-corruption-fighters-every-chance-to-work-independently.html [9] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/western-aid-disappears-ukraine-fight-against-russian-invasion-2021-09-23/
The scandal, involving inflated prices for military equipment, is a form of politics-related general-news that can have significant financial and military consequences for Ukraine. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) are investigating, hoping their recent restoration to independence will strengthen their anti-graft work and contribute to Ukraine's fight against corruption.
