A Ukrainian MP and other officials have been detained following the discovery of a major bribery scheme related to drone and electronic warfare system purchases by Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on X that a Ukrainian MP, district and city administration heads, and National Guard service members were implicated in the scheme, involving state contracts with suppliers at inflated prices of up to 30%.
Zelensky emphasized a “zero tolerance” policy for corruption and commended the agencies for their efforts.
Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies regained their independence on Thursday after national protests.
Zelensky’s administration faced backlash for proposing a bill that would remove independence from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, known as Nabu and Sap.
The president argued the agencies needed cleansing from “Russian influence” and tried to grant the general prosecutor authority over high-profile corruption cases.
This move was perceived as a regression in the fight against corruption, triggering major demonstrations since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Zelensky responded to public discontent by introducing a new bill restoring agency independence, quickly approved by parliament within nine days of the original bill’s passage.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, expressed gratitude to Zelensky for heeding public demands on anti-corruption powers.
EU allies also commended the move, having been concerned about the initial bill’s consequences.
Fighting corruption is crucial for Ukraine’s EU membership aspirations. Forming Nabu and Sap was a condition by the European Commission and International Monetary Fund in 2014 to ease visa restrictions.
Consequently, Kyiv received EU candidate status in 2022, advancing its Western integration efforts.
Since their inception, Nabu and Sap have conducted extensive investigations into the misuse of assets and bribes across multiple sectors and ministries.
A 2023 joint investigation led to the arrest of Ukraine’s Supreme Court head, Vsevolod Kniaziev, over a $3m bribe.