A senior Ministry of Defense employee has been arrested in Ukraine on suspicion of corruption. The official is accused of embezzling 36 million euros to buy urgently needed artillery shells in the war against Russia, authorities said on Friday.
Cases of corruption are repeatedly uncovered in the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. The Public Prosecution Service did not immediately comment on the man’s identity, but said: “The director of one of the most important departments of the Ministry of Defense has been taken into custody.”
Did you make the difference yourself?
The man developed a system with which he bought artillery shells at high prices. Documents found in the suspect’s apartment confirmed this.
In recent months, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has been rocked by several corruption scandals. Then-Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov rejected allegations in August that uniforms had been purchased at high prices. Resnikov was eventually fired by President Volodymyr Zelensky in early September over corruption allegations.
By early August, Zelensky had already dismissed all heads of regional offices responsible for recruitment. He criticized a system that allowed conscripts to be smuggled out of the country.
The scandal ministry
The Ministry of Defense in Kiev was previously under fire due to a food procurement scandal. However, the corruption allegations never directly related to Western military and financial support.
The leadership in Kiev is trying to take more consistent action against corruption and bribery in the country – also with a view to joining the EU. The conditions for accession include the fight against corruption.
Ukraine ranks 116th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s latest corruption perception index. This means that Ukraine is considered one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
