The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported that it has detected potential illegal use of humanitarian aid worth 171 million hryvnias ($4,1 million) intended for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Since the Euromaidan protests in 2014, Ukraine has made progress in fighting corruption in the country by establishing new anti-corruption institutions such as the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC). Anto-corruption measures are also essential for Ukraine’s aspirations to join the European Union.
According to the Ministry of Defense, joint internal audits with the State Customs Service conducted from March to July 2024 revealed discrepancies in the reported and received humanitarian assistance, valued at approximately 171.78 million hryvnias ($4,1 million).
The State Customs Service reported that the following items passed through customs for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine:
- 424 vehicles
- 476.23 tons of various unvalued goods
- 6.2 tons of food products and plastic granules
However, the defense ministry was unable to confirm the receipt of these items by military units, raising concerns about their whereabouts and usage.
In response to these findings, the Ministry of Defense alerted law enforcement agencies to investigate possible illegal enrichment, misappropriation of property, and abuse of office by certain officials. The ministry emphasized the importance of ensuring that all donated items reach frontline defenders as intended.
Earlier, the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security debunked several myths about corruption in Ukraine that are often propagated by Russian disinformation to undermine Ukraine’s credibility. These myths included claims that Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world, that all levels of Ukrainian governance are thoroughly corrupt, and that Western aid to Ukraine is primarily stolen.
Related:
- Corruption problem in Ukraine is exaggerated, European experts assert
- Debunked: the top corruption myths Russia pushes to discredit Ukraine
- Ukraine ranks 104th out of 180 in 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International, achieving one of the world’s best results
- Ukraine’s corruption crackdown: Deputy energy minister arrested in half-million dollar scheme