**Corruption Ring Exposed in Ukraine**
A shocking bribery scheme has been uncovered by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). The plot involved a member of parliament, current and former regional officials, and members of the National Guard. According to NABU, the group allegedly stole funds meant for the procurement of drones and electronic warfare equipment.
This expose comes just days after President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law restoring the independence of NABU and SAPO. The agencies were previously dismantled following mass protests and international backlash over concerns that they would lose their ability to investigate high-ranking officials without government approval.
**Key Players in the Scandal**
The bribery scheme involved several high-profile individuals, including Oleksii Kuznetsov, a member of Zelensky’s Servant of the People party. Other exposed officials included Serhii Haidai, former governor of Luhansk Oblast, and Andrii Yurchenko, head of Rubizhne district in Luhansk Oblast.
The investigation revealed that the group systematically embezzled government funds allocated for military purposes between 2024-2025. They also acquired and distributed unlawful benefits on a large scale.
**Investigation Reveals Shocking Schemes**
One of the schemes uncovered by the investigation involved intentionally inflating a state contract for the purchase of electronic warfare systems, with officials receiving kickbacks worth 30% of the contract. A similar strategy was employed with a state contract for first-person-view drones.
The agencies have arrested four people in connection with the bribery scheme.
**Government Response**
In response to the findings, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko announced that the National Guard would implement “systematic safeguards” to prevent abuses of power. The suspected officials were removed from their posts and an internal investigation was launched.
“We are building a system in which honest service is protected, and there will be inevitable responsibility for violations,” Klymenko said.
President Zelensky also commented on the scandal, praising NABU and SAPO’s work and emphasizing the importance of zero tolerance for corruption. However, his comments raised questions about the government’s relationship with anti-corruption agencies, given that they are expected to maintain their independence.
**Concerns About Government Interference**
The fact that President Zelensky was privately briefed on the findings by NABU chief Semen Kryvonos and SAPO head Oleksandr Klymenko has sparked concerns about government interference in anti-corruption efforts. The July 22 law that prompted mass demonstrations had been criticized for allowing high-ranking officials to be investigated only with approval from Zelensky’s administration.
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