In a significant development, Ukraine’s SBU security service revealed a massive corruption scandal within the country’s military procurement system, according to Reuters, January 27, 2024.
Bill Gates criticised the Ukrainian government while speaking at the Lowy Institute before the war started in 2022:
”…Ukrainian government is one of the worst in the world, you know, [it] corrupts, controlled by a few rich people, I mean really, [it is] unfortunate for the people in Ukraine.”
Så här tycker #BillGates om #Ukraina. #ukrainakriget pic.twitter.com/Y99StBWDfl
— NewsVoice (@newsvoicemag) January 28, 2024
News Checker, in March 2023 commented:
”Viral video of Bill Gates terming the Ukraine government as one of the worst was shared after removing the word “pre-war” from the beginning of his quote, making it seem like he was talking about the current government.”
The corruption in the current Ukranian government
Officials from the Ministry of Defence and managers of the arms supplier Lviv Arsenal are implicated in a scheme involving the embezzlement of nearly $40 million.
This corruption was exposed in the process of purchasing 100,000 mortar shells, a contract that was awarded to Lviv Arsenal in August 2022. Despite the advance payment for these shells, with some funds even transferred abroad, the arms were never delivered.
The fight against endemic corruption is a crucial aspect of Ukraine’s ambition to join the European Union, and this scandal undermines these efforts.
The SBU’s investigation found that both former and current high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Defence and heads of affiliated companies were involved in this embezzlement, transferring some of the funds to foreign accounts.
”But no arms were ever provided, the statement said, with some funds then moved to other foreign accounts” – Reuters
In response to these findings, the SBU has issued ”notices of suspicion” to five individuals involved in the scheme, marking the first stage of legal proceedings in Ukraine. One suspect was detained while attempting to cross the Ukrainian border.
The issue of corruption has previously led to the dismissal of Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov last September. While not personally accused of corruption, several cases occurred under his leadership.
This latest procurement fraud has been confirmed by the Defence Ministry and resonates deeply in the country. The corruption within the military is particularly sensitive as Ukraine strives to maintain wartime morale and strengthen its case for EU membership.
The russian news agency TASS writes that President Vladimir Zelensky on January 22 warned in a video address he would make a government reshuffle.
Source: Reuters, ”Ukraine says it uncovers mass fraud in weapons procurement”
By T. Sassersson, editor
