Just two days after Ukraine’s parliament unleashed its top anti-corruption watchdogs, they struck. On Saturday, investigators announced they had exposed a massive scheme to fleece the military by massively overcharging for drones and signal-jamming equipment.
In a joint statement, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and its prosecutorial counterpart (SAPO) said they had implicated a sitting lawmaker, two local officials, and several national guard members. The group was allegedly skimming a staggering 30 percent off the top of each contract in kickbacks.
“The essence of the scheme was to conclude state contracts with supplier companies at deliberately inflated prices,” the joint statement said. Four individuals have been arrested.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy reacted on Telegram, writing, “There can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork to expose corruption and, as a result, a just sentence.”
Political Reversal and Public Pressure
The revelation comes after one of the largest domestic protests since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukrainians rallied nationwide earlier this month against a move by Zelenskiy to bring NABU and SAPO under the control of the prosecutor-general, sparking fears of weakened oversight.
Faced with public anger and international criticism, Zelenskiy reversed course and submitted a bill to restore the agencies’ independence. Parliament approved it on Thursday.
Let’s be clear: Europe told Ukraine not to even think about messing with its anti-corruption agencies if it still wanted to join the club. So when Kyiv backed down, it was no surprise that Western allies rushed to praise the move. They needed to publicly reward Kyiv for stepping back from a disastrous political mistake.
Focus on Defense Contracts
The newly exposed scheme targeted military procurement during wartime, when drones and jamming systems are critical for Ukraine’s defense against Russia. NABU and SAPO said the investigation revealed state contracts signed with prearranged suppliers at inflated costs, allowing officials to pocket large sums.
Zelenskiy met with the heads of NABU and SAPO on Saturday. He said the agencies now have “every opportunity for a real fight against corruption” and pledged continued support for independent investigations.
The arrests mark one of the highest-profile anti-corruption actions since the start of Russia’s invasion, reinforcing the government’s promise to pursue wartime accountability.
