Corruption investigators in Ukraine detain four individuals for their involvement in a bribe case related to the purchase of drones
Ukraine Uncovers Major Corruption Scheme Involving Military Drones and Signal Jamming Systems
In a significant development, Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), have uncovered a major graft scheme involving the procurement of military drones and signal jamming systems at inflated prices.
The investigation, which is currently ongoing, was briefed to President Volodymyr Zelensky by the heads of NABU and SAPO. The latest findings come shortly after Ukraine’s parliament restored the independence of these key anti-corruption agencies, a move widely praised by European allies as crucial for Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations.
The corruption scheme allegedly involved a sitting lawmaker from President Zelenskyy’s "Servant of the People" party, two local officials, and an unspecified number of National Guard personnel taking bribes. The details of the identified individuals involved in the graft scheme were not disclosed in the statement.
The scandal surfaced just days after Ukraine’s parliament, following large protests, passed a law restoring the full independence of NABU and SAPO, reversing a previous attempt by Zelenskyy’s administration to place them under the control of the prosecutor general.
Several individuals, including Oleksiy Kuznetsov, a lawmaker from Zelenskyy’s party, two local officials, and the head of a National Guard unit, have been detained in connection with the case. NABU has made four arrests, but the identities of those detained have not been disclosed.
The corruption scheme is believed to have involved signing state contracts at inflated prices for drones and electronic warfare equipment to receive kickbacks. The offenders in the scheme reportedly received kickbacks of up to 30% of a contract's cost.
This discovery underscores the ongoing challenges in Ukraine’s defense procurement and reinforces the importance of strong, independent anti-corruption institutions to meet EU standards. Drones have been a strategic military asset for Ukraine in its defense against Russia, making the integrity of their procurement key not only for defense effectiveness but also for political credibility in integration with Western institutions.
President Zelensky expressed zero tolerance for corruption and called for clear teamwork to expose corruption and deliver just sentences. He wrote that it is important for anti-corruption institutions to operate independently, and the law adopted guarantees them every opportunity for a real fight against corruption.
The independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption investigators and prosecutors was reinstated by parliament after a move to take it away resulted in the country’s biggest demonstrations since Russia’s invasion in 2022. The statement did not disclose the details of the individuals involved in the latest investigation.
Top European officials had previously cautioned that curbing the independence of anti-corruption bodies would jeopardize Ukraine’s European Union membership bid. Restoring the agencies’ independence was praised by European allies as an essential step toward transparency and the rule of law, both critical criteria for EU accession.
[1] BBC News, "Ukraine anti-corruption bodies uncover major graft scheme," 2 August 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58093225
[2] Reuters, "Ukraine restores independence of anti-graft bodies," 2 August 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-restores-independence-anti-graft-bodies-2025-08-02/
[3] Deutsche Welle, "Ukraine uncovers major corruption scheme in military procurement," 2 August 2025, https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-uncovers-major-corruption-scheme-in-military-procurement/a-58095589
- The ongoing investigation led by Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies has revealed a broader corruption scheme that extends into the realm of politics, as a sitting lawmaker from President Zelenskyy’s "Servant of the People" party is alleged to be involved.
- With the latest graft scheme uncovered in Ukraine's military drone and signal jamming systems procurement, it is clear that the areas of general-news, politics, and crime-and-justice are all intertwined, reinforcing the importance of strong, independent anti-corruption institutions to maintain EU standards and political credibility.
