Ukraine's security service accuses senior officials of trying to steal about $40m in an order for mortar shells.

Ukraine’s security service says it has uncovered corruption in an arms purchase by the military worth about $40m (£31m).

The SBU said five senior people in the defence ministry and at an arms supplier were being investigated.

It said the defence officials signed a contract for 100,000 mortar shells in August 2022.

Payment was made in advance, with some funds transferred abroad, but no arms were ever provided.

Corruption has been a major stumbling block in Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union.

The SBU said an investigation had “exposed” officials of the ministry of defence and managers of arms supplier Lviv Arsenal, “who stole nearly 1.5 billion hryvnias in the purchase of shells”.

  • @DamageEnglish
    -19•5 months ago

    Yeah but he got to president in Europe’s most corrupt government, we’re all rooting for him because of the war, but the chances of him being clean are slim.

    • NoneOfUrBusiness
      33•5 months ago

      I mean he got elected right after a revolution that took down the Russian-supported government so it’s probably safe to say corruption hadn’t caught up to him yet. His chances of being clean are the same as those of a politician anywhere else.

      • @DamageEnglish
        -9•5 months ago

        I was there the year before the war, I guarantee you that corruption was still there

        • @deft@lemmy.wtfEnglish
          13•5 months ago

          this article is literally about corruption. yes it is still there are you blaming him for it?

        • NoneOfUrBusiness
          7•5 months ago

          No of course they still have corruption problems. I meant that they probably got to have at least one election that isn’t ruined by massive corruption. That tends to be the case after successful revolution (successful meaning not ruled by a dictator after) AFAIK.