Ukrainian authorities have claimed that corrupt officials stole £31million, which was money supposed to be used to purchase weapons for the ongoing war with Russia.
Officials have said that five people have been charged, with one apprehended attempting to cross the border. If they are found guilty they could face up to 12 years in prison.
According to the country’s security service, staff at a Ukrainian arms company conspired with defence ministry chiefs to steal almost $40million (£31.1million) meant to buy 100,000 mortar shells for the war against Putin’s forces.
The Secret Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on Saturday night that five people have been charged, with one detained attempting to leave the country.
This comes as Kyiv tries to get a handle on corruption in its attempt to further its prospect of EU and NATO membership. Top brass in both institutions have called for widespread reforms to reduce corrupt practices before the war-torn country can be admitted.
Volodymyr Zelensky was elected on an expressly anti-corruption ticket in 2019, prior to Putin’s invasion in February 2022.
Both President Zelensky and his aides have cast the recent sackings of high-ranking officials, including the removal of SBU head Ivan Bakano in July 2022, as evidence of their work in this area.
According to security bosses, the current investigation goes back all the way to August 2022, when officials signed a contract for artillery shells with £31.1million with armaments company Lviv Arsenal.
After receiving the money, company staff were meant to transfer it to a foreign business, which would deliver the shells to Ukraine.
But, the goods were never delivered and the cash was sent to a number of different locations in Ukraine and the Balkans, according to investigators.
Ukraine’s prosecutor general said the funds have since been seized and will be returned to the country’s coffers.
