KIEV (Reuters)-Ukraine said on Monday that she accused six people, including a parliamentarian and a government authority, for diversion of resources to buy drones and interference equipment for the military.
Kiev depends on constant supply of drones and electronic war systems to fight Russian invasion and is also fighting corruption, a fundamental action for his future in the European Union.
Anti -corruption authorities said on Saturday that they discovered a scheme involving the parliamentarian, a current authority and an old, a national guard commander, and two entrepreneurs, who received bribes for purchases at inflated prices.
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“In 2024–2025, an organized criminal group systematically diverted the funds allocated by local authorities for defense needs,” the National Anti -Corruption Agency in a statement said, adding that the bribes totaled about 30% of the value of contracts.
The drone contract was worth $ 240,000, with an overpricing of about $ 80,000, according to the agency.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who caused a public furor last month for briefly suppressed the independence of two anti -corruption agencies, praised the measure on Saturday after meeting with branches.
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In addition to the parliamentarian, the accused on Monday include a former governor and head of the regional administration, the head of a city’s military administration, the commander of a National Guard unit, the director and owner of a drone manufacturer.
The parliamentarian was sentenced to two months in prison on Monday, while waiting for the payment of bail equivalent to about $ 190,000, the Ukraine anti-corruption court said.
None of the suspects was identified. The equipment was manufactured locally.
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(Dan Peleschuk’s report)
