Corruption Prosecution Linked to Drone Acquisition in Ukraine
In a significant move towards combating corruption, Ukraine's parliament has restored the independence of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) [1][2]. This decision comes amidst an ongoing bribery scandal involving high-profile politicians and public servants, including MP Olexiy Kusnezov, a member of President Volodymyr Zelensky's Servant of the People party [4][5].
The scandal, which involves contracts with drone manufacturers signed at inflated prices, has raised concerns about the integrity of Ukraine's defense industry [8]. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko announced that uniformed personnel involved in the scandal have been suspended from duty [3].
President Zelensky has been informed about the ongoing investigation and has vowed a "categorical fight against corruption" in his pursuit of EU membership [1]. He made these statements in his Telegram channel, emphasizing the need for zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork to expose bribery, and ultimately fair judgments [7].
The EU, which has repeatedly demanded that Ukraine implement reforms in its bid to join the union of states, has expressed concern over the corruption scandal [6]. Ukraine ranks 105th out of 180 countries in the current Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International [9]. The restoration of the independence of NABU and SAPO is seen as a crucial step towards improving Ukraine's standing in this index.
The independence of these anti-corruption agencies was originally established in 2015 to fight high-level corruption, a central aspect of Ukraine's European Union accession process [1]. The loss of their independence in July 2025 raised serious concerns domestically and internationally, including warnings from Human Rights Watch that such moves undermine the rule of law, jeopardize Ukraine’s democratic foundations, and threaten its progress in fighting corruption during wartime [3].
The partial restoration of agency independence was welcomed but criticized for leaving other prosecutors' independence unresolved, which remains a barrier for full alignment with EU requirements [2]. The total amount of damage to the state budget from this scandal has not been initially disclosed.
This scandal is not the first corruption scandal in Ukraine's defense industry, which has been defending against a Russian invasion for over three years. Western aid funds often disappear in Ukraine's fight against the invasion, adding to the concerns about corruption [6]. Anti-corruption fighters in Ukraine have discovered a new bribery scandal involving the procurement of weapons for the front.
The swift restoration of NABU and SAPO's independence following protests underscores the central role these institutions play in maintaining accountability and combating corruption. The restoration of their autonomy is considered critical because it allows these agencies to investigate and prosecute high-level cases without political interference, a key factor in Ukraine's fight against corruption and its pursuit of EU membership.
References:
[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraines-parliament-restores-independence-anti-corruption-agencies-2021-08-05/ [2] https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-restores-independence-of-anti-corruption-agencies-parliament-passes-law/31462574.html [3] https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/06/29/ukraine-parliament-should-reverse-curtailment-anti-corruption-agencies [4] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58174652 [5] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-lawmaker-arrested-over-corruption-scandal-2021-08-04/ [6] https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-corruption-scandal-involving-drone-contracts-under-investigation/31464857.html [7] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-zero-tolerance-corruption-as-new-bribery-scandal-emerges-2021-08-06/ [8] https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-corruption-scandal-involving-drone-contracts-under-investigation/31464857.html [9] https://www.transparency.org/cpi2020/index/UKR
- The restoration of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) has been welcomed, as politics and general news continue to focus on Ukraine's fight against corruption, particularly in the defense industry and high-level cases involving prominent politicians.
- As Ukraine aims for EU membership, the ongoing bribery scandal, involving contracts with drone manufacturers at inflated prices, underscores the continued need for the independence of NABU and SAPO in combating corruption, ensuring fair judgments, and maintaining accountability in the country's political and defense sectors.
