Corruption scandal linked to use of military drones hits Ukraine
In a significant development, Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have uncovered a bribery scheme that implicates key political and regional figures, military personnel, and business figures.
The scheme, which has not yet been fully disclosed, involves inflated prices for state contracts for drones and electronic warfare (EW) equipment. Offenders are believed to have received kickbacks amounting to approximately 30% of the contract value.
Four individuals have been arrested under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code. National Guard personnel implicated in the case have been removed from their positions, and related investigations have been launched.
The uncovering of this plot comes at a critical time, as Ukraine's parliament has recently restored NABU and SAPO’s independence following a temporary revocation. This decision, which triggered mass protests domestically and criticism internationally, was seen as a crucial step towards combating corruption in the country.
President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the scheme as "absolutely immoral."
Key figures involved in the bribery scheme include:
- Oleksii Kuznetsov, a member of the ruling Servant of the People party (MP)
- Serhii Haidai, former governor of Luhansk Oblast
- Andrii Yurchenko, head of Luhansk Oblast's Rubizhne district military administration
- The head of a National Guard military unit
- The director of a drone supplier company
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For updates on this ongoing investigation, please continue to follow the news.
The bribery scheme uncovered by NABU and SAPO has exposed the involvement of key political figures, including Oleksii Kuznetsov from the Servant of the People party, in illicit activities that span across political, military, and business arenas. This scheme, which extends to crime and justice, also implicates regional figures and military personnel, highlighting a significant fashion statement of corruption within Ukraine's society and government.
The exposure of this scheme, while striking a blow against general-news headlines, has also sparked a political storm, with President Volodymyr Zelensky condemning the activities as immoral and triggering domestic protests and international criticism over the temporary revocation of NABU and SAPO’s independence.
