Ukrainian anti-corruption agency discovers drone procurement transplant plan
Kiev, Ukraine (AP) – Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency said they have discovered a major transplant program involving an inflated military procurement contract, only two days after the Ukrainian parliament voted to restore the agency’s independence.
In a joint statement posted on social media on Saturday, the National Anti-Corruption Agency (NABU) and the dedicated Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) said the suspects had taken bribes to use state funds to purchase drones and other military equipment at a high price.
“The essence of the plan is to sign a contract with the supplier company at a deliberately exaggerated price,” the statement said, adding that the offender received a 30% rebate of the contract value.
The anti-corruption agency has not identified detainees, but says Ukrainian MPs, local regional and municipal government officials, and National Guard military personnel are involved. They said four people have been arrested so far. The Ministry of Home Affairs said National Guard personnel related to the case had been evacuated from their posts.
For Ukraine and Russia, drones have become an important asset in modern warfare, enhancing military reconnaissance, precise strikes and strategic flexibility on the battlefield. Ukrainian troops destroyed most of the Russian military assets, including human and heavy weapons. Drone production is also a key aspect of Kiev’s hope to expand domestic military production and export markets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talked about the development in a nightly speech on Saturday, saying the grafting plan was “absolutely immoral” and thanked the anti-corruption agencies for their work.
“Unfortunately, these corruption plans involve the procurement of electronic warfare systems and FPV drones … there must be a full and fair responsibility for this,” he said in his speech.
Zelenskyy also included photos of him meeting with agency heads in an earlier post, saying, “It is important for anti-corruption agencies to operate independently”, adding: “The laws passed on Thursday guaranteed all the tools they need to really fight corruption.”
The Ukrainian parliament voted to restore its independence just two days after Nab and Sapo’s gluttony plan was exposed to two days after it was exposed.
Ukrainian parliament overwhelmed the bill proposed by Zelenskyy on Thursday, reversed his earlier controversial moves, curbed their power and triggered a rebound, including street protests, which were rare in wartime.
Last week, measures to put regulators under the supervision of prosecutors prompted reprimands from Ukrainians, the EU and international rights groups. It raises concerns that governments may interfere in investigations and potentially keep supporters from scrutiny.
Fighting deep-rooted corruption is crucial to Ukraine’s desire to join the EU and maintain billions of dollars in Western aid in a total war that has been in its fourth year. This is also an effort to enjoy wide public support.
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Morton reported from London.
