KYIV, August 3 – Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies have uncovered a large-scale bribery and procurement fraud scheme involving military drones and signal jamming systems, just two days after their independence was reinstated following mass public protests.
In a joint statement issued on social media, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) announced that a sitting lawmaker, two local officials, and several members of the National Guard had been implicated in the scheme, which involved the signing of inflated state contracts and the payment of substantial kickbacks.
"The essence of the scheme was the conclusion of state contracts with suppliers at deliberately inflated prices," the agencies stated, adding that the perpetrators received illegal payments amounting to as much as 30% of the contract value. Four individuals have been arrested so far. The identities of those involved have not yet been disclosed.
The revelation comes in the wake of a political reversal by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who last week submitted emergency legislation to restore the independence of NABU and SAPO, after his earlier decision to place the agencies under the control of the prosecutor general triggered the largest nationwide demonstrations since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022.
Zelenskyy Responds to Scandal
"There can be zero tolerance for corruption — only coordinated action to expose it and ensure justice is delivered," President Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram following the announcement of the investigation.
Zelenskyy, who continues to enjoy widespread public support and holds sweeping wartime powers, acknowledged public outrage over his initial move to weaken the agencies’ independence. He responded by introducing a bill to reverse the decision, which was swiftly passed by parliament on Thursday.
European Union Praises Reform
Ukraine’s Western partners, including senior European Union officials, welcomed the restoration of NABU and SAPO’s autonomy, having expressed strong concerns that undermining the country’s anti-graft framework could endanger Kyiv’s bid for EU membership.
In a post on Saturday, Zelenskyy reaffirmed his commitment to clean governance:
"It is essential that our anti-corruption institutions operate independently. The legislation adopted this week ensures they have every tool necessary to carry out their mission," he said following a meeting with the heads of NABU and SAPO, who briefed him on the latest developments in the investigation.
The timing of the exposure of the procurement fraud — shortly after the reinstatement of the agencies’ independence — is seen by observers as a powerful demonstration of Ukraine’s renewed resolve to tackle corruption amid the ongoing war and its aspirations for European integration.
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