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Ukraine investigating corruption in weapons purchase
One individual was apprehended while attempting to leave Ukraine.
Ukraine is currently probing a corruption scheme involving military officials who allegedly paid almost $40 million for weapons that were never delivered, according to officials.
The SBU security service is investigating five suspects, including high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Defense and managers of arms supplier Lviv Arsenal.
They are accused of embezzling nearly 1.5 billion hryvnias ($39.6 million) in state funds.
The investigation reveals that in August 2022, officials entered into a contract with Lviv Arsenal for the purchase of 100,000 mortar rounds.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Defense made a full advance payment, and the company transferred a portion of the funds to a foreign entity purportedly responsible for delivering the ammunition.
Nevertheless, [the foreign company] failed to dispatch a single artillery shell to Ukraine, diverting the funds clandestinely by transferring them to the accounts of another affiliated entity in the Balkans, as stated by the SBU.
The security service disclosed that the case involves the investigation of five individuals, including both former and current officials at the Ministry of Defense and managers of Lviv Arsenal.
One individual was apprehended while attempting to leave Ukraine.
If found guilty, those implicated could potentially face a prison sentence of up to 12 years.
