Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies uncover drone procurement graft
scheme
[August 04, 2025]
By ELISE MORTON and SAMYA KULLAB
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies said they had
uncovered a major graft scheme involving inflated military procurement
contracts, just two days after Ukraine’s parliament voted to restore the
agencies’ independence.
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.
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Long-range drones An-196 Liutyi of the Defence Intelligence of
Ukraine stand in line before takeoff in undisclosed location,
Ukraine, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

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.
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Morton reported from London.
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