Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies uncover drone procurement graft scheme
In a joint statement published Saturday on social media, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) said the suspects had taken bribes in a scheme that used state funds to buy drones and other military equipment at inflated prices.
'The essence of the scheme was to conclude state contracts with supplier companies at deliberately inflated prices,' the statement said, adding that offenders had received kickbacks of up to 30% of the contracts' value.
The anti-corruption bodies did not identify the detainees, but said a Ukrainian lawmaker, local district and city officials, and National Guard servicemen were involved. Four people have been arrested so far, they said. The Interior Ministry said the National Guard personnel implicated in the case were removed from their positions.
Drones have become a crucial asset in modern warfare for both Ukraine and Russia, enhancing military reconnaissance, precision strikes, and strategic flexibility on the battlefield. The majority of Russian military assets destroyed by Ukrainian forces, including manpower and heavy weaponry, have been targeted by drones. Drone production is also a key aspect of Kyiv 's hopes to expand domestic military production and export markets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the development in his nightly address on Saturday, calling the graft scheme 'absolutely immoral' and thanking the anti-corruption agencies for their work.
'Unfortunately, these corruption schemes involved the procurement of electronic warfare systems and FPV drones ... There must be full and fair accountability for this,' he said in his address, posted to X.
In an earlier post, which also included photos of him meeting with the agency heads, Zelenskyy said it is 'important that anti-corruption institutions operate independently,' adding that 'the law passed on Thursday guarantees them all the tools necessary for a real fight against corruption.'
The exposure of the graft scheme by NABU and SAPO came just two days after Ukraine's parliament voted to restore their independence.
Ukraine's Parliament on Thursday overwhelmingly approved the bill presented by Zelenskyy, reversing his earlier contentious move that curbed their power and sparked a backlash, including street protests, a rarity in wartime.
Last week's measure to place the watchdogs under the oversight of the prosecutor-general prompted rebukes from Ukrainians, the European Union and international rights groups. It raised fears that the government could meddle in investigations and potentially shield its supporters from scrutiny.
Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the European Union and maintain access to billions of dollars of vital Western aid in the all-out war, now in its fourth year. It's also an effort that enjoys broad public support.
___
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Kick It Out say reports of abuse and discrimination in football is at record high
Football 's anti- discrimination charity Kick It Out received almost 1,400 reports of discrimination during the 2024-25 season, a record high. There were 1,398 reports of abuse, Kick It Out revealed, up from 1,332 in the 2023-24 campaign. The data shows a rise in sexism, transphobia, and faith-based abuse, with racism remaining the most reported form of discrimination. There was a big spike in sexism and misogyny, with the number of complaints rising by 67 per cent, with a rise also in youth football. Kick It Out chief executive Samuel Okafor said: 'These figures show that discrimination remains deeply embedded across the game, but the rise in abuse in youth football should be a wake-up call. 'No one should be facing hostility simply for taking part. 'What we're seeing now is that fans aren't just reporting abuse, they're demanding action. There's been a clear shift this season in how people are calling out sexist behaviour, both online and in stadiums, and asking football to treat it as seriously as any other form of hate.' 'At the same time, it's clear that online platforms are still falling short. The volume of abuse remains high, and too often, those responsible face no consequences. 'Fans are doing their part by speaking up. It's now up to football authorities, tech companies and government to show they're listening, and to act.' During Euro 2025, Lionesses defender Jess Carter was sent 'vile' and 'abhorrent' racist abuse online following their quarter-final win over Sweden. The Football Association (FA) confirmed they were working with UK police and the relevant social media platforms, while Carter said she would 'a step back' from social media as a result of the abuse she has received throughout the tournament. In May, Kick It Out has called on the football authorities to show 'solidarity and support' to the trans community after the English and Scottish governing bodies banned transgender women from the competitive female game. The football associations updated their policies in light of last month's ruling from the UK Supreme Court, which clarified that the word 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act meant biological sex. Previously, transgender women had been able to compete provided they reduced testosterone to accepted levels. The FA's new policy came into effect on June 1.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Ministers earmark £88m for youth clubs and after-school activities in England
Youth clubs and after-school activities in England will receive a funding injection of £88m as ministers try to get more children away from smartphones and computer screens. The package, which Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday, is intended to give pupils access to sport, outdoor activities, art, music, debating and volunteering. The prime minister said there was a 'worrying trend' of young people finding themselves 'isolated at home and disconnected from their communities'. He said the funds were designed to offer young people 'a better alternative' and the opportunity to 'develop the confidence and life skills that no algorithm can teach'. Of the £88m package, £22.5m is new money to fund extracurricular activities in up to 400 schools over three years. The remaining £65.5m was announced in the spending review in June. It will be spent on improving youth club infrastructure, including new gym equipment and climbing walls, in areas with high levels of child poverty and support youth work in areas with high rates of antisocial behaviour. The funds will also support local authorities to provide high-quality out-of-school activities and create thousands of places in youth organisations such as the Scouts, the Guides and the Volunteer Police Cadets. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The number of youth centres run by local authorities in England almost halved between 2012 and 2023, with council spending on youth work decreasing by 75% and the number of youth workers falling by about 4,500. In the spring UK Youth, the country's biggest youth-work charity, called on the government to urgently increase funding and said Labour had so far spent less than the Conservatives on youth work in England. Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, last month told cabinet colleagues that deprivation, immigration and rising time spent online were having a 'profound impact on society'. At a cabinet meeting, she said the government must confront people's 'real concerns' to rebuild trust. In March, Starmer praised the hit Netflix drama Adolescence and invited its makers to Downing Street to discuss the influence of toxic online material. He told the BBC that the series shone a light 'on misogyny, on online content, and this sense of children, particularly boys, getting drawn into this world'. Ministers are preparing to publish a national youth strategy in the autumn. Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary, said: 'Strong local youth services are the bedrock of thriving communities that give our young people safe spaces to learn, grow and reach their potential.'
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Lib Dems call for urgent regulation of YouTube ads after wave of scams
The Liberal Democrats are calling for urgent regulation of YouTube advertising after scams including deepfakes, impersonated public figures and fraudulent investment claims were found to be spreading on the platform with little oversight. The party said YouTube's adverts remain largely unchecked by independent regulators, despite new data from Ofcom showing the platform has overtaken ITV in weekly UK viewership and continues to dominate children's media consumption. Among the recent scams onYouTube was a series of ads using an AI-generated voice and likeness of the consumer champion Martin Lewis to promote a cryptocurrency scheme, despite Lewis having no involvement. The videos, which have drawn thousands of complaints on Reddit and X, mislead users into thinking they are receiving financial advice from a trusted source. Other viewers have reported false product claims, scam diet pills and fake competitions. In one Reddit thread users reported being targeted with ads impersonating UK media figures or pretending to offer government-backed grants, with little clarity over how to report or block such content. YouTube adverts fall under the same Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) rules as TV, but unlike broadcasters, there is no pre-approval, real-time scrutiny or independent enforcement unless someone complains. The ASA has previously warned of a rise in 'celebrity deepfake' and 'impersonation' scams on online platforms, particularly for financial services. The lack of mandatory pre-approval or independent enforcement means that many of these adverts remain online for days before action is taken, if any is. Max Wilkinson, the Liberal Democrats' spokesperson for culture, media and sport, said the system leaves the public exposed. 'We cannot allow a two-tier system where traditional broadcasters face robust scrutiny, while a digital giant like YouTube is allowed to mark its own homework,' he said. The party is calling for YouTube advertising to be brought into line with the system used for TV and radio, including tougher oversight, clearer accountability, and the power for Ofcom to levy fines on platforms that repeatedly allow harmful or misleading ads. It also wants revenues from those fines used to support victims of online scams. YouTube ads are served through Google Ads and are regulated under a voluntary framework created by the tech industry. This contrasts with the ASA's co-regulatory model for broadcast advertising, where Ofcom retains backstop powers and many adverts must be pre-cleared before airing. Privately, some Labour MPs acknowledge that online ad regulation is 'behind the curve', but there is little appetite for major change. Others have warned that new restrictions could make it harder to target voters aged under 35, many of whom are disengaged from traditional media. Last month the Guardian revealed that Ofcom is preparing to push for new legal powers to require platforms like YouTube to give greater prominence to public service content, amid concerns that trusted news, children's programming and UK-produced shows are becoming 'invisible' to younger viewers. The Lib Dems argue that the same logic should apply to advertising, especially given the rise in misleading financial content and impersonation scams. 'YouTube is no longer a niche platform – it's one of the main ways people of all ages consume news, entertainment and information,' said Wilkinson. 'The government needs to act now to ensure that consumers are properly protected.' A YouTube spokesperson said: 'YouTube is not a broadcaster and it should not be regulated like one. 'We have strict policies that govern the ads on our platform which we enforce rigorously. When we find ads that breach our policies we take immediate action, including removing the ads and suspending the account when necessary.'
