KYIV — Ukrainian officials stole about $40 million meant for the purchase of ammunition for the military, the country’s internal security service said Saturday — confirming a massive procurement fraud as Kyiv seeks to assure international backers that it is cracking down on corruption.
Though it was state money — not foreign aid — that was embezzled, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement, the scheme is likely to resonate in both Washington and Brussels, where European Union membership and continued financial and military assistance hang in the balance.
The SBU said its investigation implicated current and former high-ranking Ministry of Defense officials and managers of an arms supplier, Lviv Arsenal, who were supposed to use the money to purchase 100,000 mortar shells for the military. Money was paid in advance to Lviv Arsenal in August 2022, but the shells were never supplied.
In before all the ignorant posts from people that pretend catching corruption is a bad sign rather than a good one.
It is just like medicare fraud in the US. Why is it so low? Because you see the occasional story about doctors who do this getting caught and prosecuted.
Seeing more arrests at the border under Biden vs Trump is a sign that enforcement is better, not worse.
People need to stop pretending that evidence of enforcing the law is somehow a bad sign.
Ukraine was far worse when no one was being caught doing stuff like this.
That they know about….
Wow, first time I seeing post from WP here.
Not surprised by choice of topic and headline.
Good to see them cleaning up, it’s the way forward. Lets hope they can get the stolen money back from these guys.
Then you got the Mayors in Kyiv who act like the President is super corrupt, and letting corruption continue unchecked. Throw them all in the sewer.
No one is angrier about this than Ukrainian themselves. I work with some volunteer groups and sadly, they tell me corruption is commonplace. Part of why volunteer groups for individual units in the Ukrainian military have become so important is that they actually deliver what soldiers need in a timely fashion.
The main thing Ukraine is lacking at the front is artillery ammunition, which is especially infuriating with reports like this.
Consequences, and make an example or they get bolder
For something like that, i would start using Penal military units again.
[removed]
Ukraine and corruption name a better duo.
Never give cash as aid, equipment and supplies only, people are weak and easily corrupted. Ukraine has been famous for their corruption for many decades, all aid should come with oversight for every country
Russian troll accounts unironically commenting about Ukrainian corruption is the funniest thing I’ll read today.
war is a racket…
the ultimate laundromat.
The difference between Ukraine and Russia is right here. In Russia this is business as usual. In Ukraine they get paraded before the media and prosecuted.
Isn’t Ukraine one of the most corrupt nations in the world? I thought that is why Hunter was working at Burisma.
Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Public execution of guilty parties. Stealing during times of war is the death penalty isn’t it?
Traitors deserve no quarter in times of war.
Anyone who understood how corrupt Ukraine was before the war shouldn’t be shocked that little has changed.
sorry to break it to you, but before the war happened ukraine was and still one of the most corrupted countries . the truth hurts
They should make an example out of them. In times of war this isn’t just stealing, it’s treason.
Only $40 million, that’s a win….
There is a special circle in hell for treasonous bastards like this. Imagine lining your own pockets while your countrymen are dying because of your corruption. 🤮
this had to be the highest form of treason you can think of in a situation like this.
Ukraine does not need any corruption scandals with the current support already on the line as it is.
Some people truly dont care about anything but themselves.
God damn it. They needs these funds to save their people and what a terrible time for this bullshit while Putin is paying off half the world to save his ass. They need to publicly execute these bastards to show the world how serious they are about cleaning up
the corruption.
Who could have possibly seen this coming?
$40Million is 5 Thousand 155mm shells (current cost of 8k/shell according to American production numbers.)
Edit: Nothing like being wayy off on my ‘merths’ early sunday am. Its 5000 shells, not 5 million. The original point I had hoped to make was that while $40M seems like a great deal of money its about 1/6th of a SINGLE days usage bu the UAF of 155mm shells.
Traitors. Straight up.
Damn the second most corrupt country in Europe(after Russia) had government officials steal $40 Million in USD?!?!?!?
It takes a lot of effort and a long time to root out corruption. Ukraine are doing all the right things.
Other countries should take note.
Is this one group being turned in by a bigger, more powerful, corruption ring?
There will (and should) be literal heads rolling over this.
Which has cost god knows how many thousands of lives, in addition to a staggering amount of money.
Let me put it this way, Putin has already done *multiple* purges of his ranks due to similar shit.
*I* would send fucking goon squads after some of these clowns, if I were Zelensky. This is perhaps one of the few times it’s arguably warranted.
Shouldn’t be a shock, they’ve been the most corrupt country in europe for years now. I’d be surprised if even 50% of aid sent got to where it’s meant to go.
Gee, now this is a real shocker
This is peanuts. I seriously doubt the number is that low
what is it with ukraine and corruption?
Off to the front line you go
Execute the guilty, seize ALL of their assets (not just the stolen ones) and nationalize the munitions company.
Private industry NEVER looks out for the public good – that’s the core fallacy of libertarianism…which is more appropriately referred to as “libertopianism” because it’s bullshit utopian nonsense that doesn’t work in reality.
I’m absolutely shocked! You mean the country that has been consistently notorious for flagrant corruption??? Quick, give them $10,000,000,000 more!
Cut all funding.
This is laughable. Considering the amount of “aid” given to them, Do people really think this hasn’t been happening all along? I bet the number is far higher than 40 mil.
It was probably the 30’ish guy who was driving the super fancy Mercedes SUV that passed me on Autobahn 3 this afternoon. I thought “Now there’s a guy who would steal a lot of money and leave his county in a time of need”.
What do you think foreign aid is covering? Shit like this is why the US is having problems providing more aid and rightfully so if it is being embezzled away.
Shocking. Please let all the “you’re just a Russian bot if you do t support the war in Ukraine” accusers eat their words.
Ukraine was a corrupt shithole pre-2022. Good that this is exposed and will be handled more in standard with the Europeans.
Wow, corruption is uncovered in 2nd most corrupt government in the world. Who would’ve figured? Anyway, here’s another $100 billion to fight for freedom.
Ukraine has been riddled with corruption forever. The war didnt suddenly change that.
49 comments
KYIV — Ukrainian officials stole about $40 million meant for the purchase of ammunition for the military, the country’s internal security service said Saturday — confirming a massive procurement fraud as Kyiv seeks to assure international backers that it is cracking down on corruption.
Though it was state money — not foreign aid — that was embezzled, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said in a statement, the scheme is likely to resonate in both Washington and Brussels, where European Union membership and continued financial and military assistance hang in the balance.
Some detractors have pointed to Ukraine’s [history with corruption](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/01/24/ukraine-officials-ousted-corruption-zelensky/?itid=lk_inline_manual_5) as reasons to stop providing money to the country nearly two years into its war with Russia. Ukrainian officials insist that they are being hypervigilant and [cracking down hard](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/19/ukraine-corruption-judge-war-bribes/?itid=lk_inline_manual_5) on graft.
The SBU said its investigation implicated current and former high-ranking Ministry of Defense officials and managers of an arms supplier, Lviv Arsenal, who were supposed to use the money to purchase 100,000 mortar shells for the military. Money was paid in advance to Lviv Arsenal in August 2022, but the shells were never supplied.
**Read more:** [**https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/01/28/ukraine-defense-corruption-artillery-shells/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/01/28/ukraine-defense-corruption-artillery-shells/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit.com)
In before all the ignorant posts from people that pretend catching corruption is a bad sign rather than a good one.
It is just like medicare fraud in the US. Why is it so low? Because you see the occasional story about doctors who do this getting caught and prosecuted.
Seeing more arrests at the border under Biden vs Trump is a sign that enforcement is better, not worse.
People need to stop pretending that evidence of enforcing the law is somehow a bad sign.
Ukraine was far worse when no one was being caught doing stuff like this.
That they know about….
Wow, first time I seeing post from WP here.
Not surprised by choice of topic and headline.
Good to see them cleaning up, it’s the way forward. Lets hope they can get the stolen money back from these guys.
Then you got the Mayors in Kyiv who act like the President is super corrupt, and letting corruption continue unchecked. Throw them all in the sewer.
No one is angrier about this than Ukrainian themselves. I work with some volunteer groups and sadly, they tell me corruption is commonplace. Part of why volunteer groups for individual units in the Ukrainian military have become so important is that they actually deliver what soldiers need in a timely fashion.
The main thing Ukraine is lacking at the front is artillery ammunition, which is especially infuriating with reports like this.
Consequences, and make an example or they get bolder
For something like that, i would start using Penal military units again.
[removed]
Ukraine and corruption name a better duo.
Never give cash as aid, equipment and supplies only, people are weak and easily corrupted. Ukraine has been famous for their corruption for many decades, all aid should come with oversight for every country
Russian troll accounts unironically commenting about Ukrainian corruption is the funniest thing I’ll read today.
war is a racket…
the ultimate laundromat.
The difference between Ukraine and Russia is right here. In Russia this is business as usual. In Ukraine they get paraded before the media and prosecuted.
Isn’t Ukraine one of the most corrupt nations in the world? I thought that is why Hunter was working at Burisma.
Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Public execution of guilty parties. Stealing during times of war is the death penalty isn’t it?
Traitors deserve no quarter in times of war.
Anyone who understood how corrupt Ukraine was before the war shouldn’t be shocked that little has changed.
sorry to break it to you, but before the war happened ukraine was and still one of the most corrupted countries . the truth hurts
They should make an example out of them. In times of war this isn’t just stealing, it’s treason.
Only $40 million, that’s a win….
There is a special circle in hell for treasonous bastards like this. Imagine lining your own pockets while your countrymen are dying because of your corruption. 🤮
[Non paywall new site](https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/01/27/7439191/)
this had to be the highest form of treason you can think of in a situation like this.
Ukraine does not need any corruption scandals with the current support already on the line as it is.
Some people truly dont care about anything but themselves.
God damn it. They needs these funds to save their people and what a terrible time for this bullshit while Putin is paying off half the world to save his ass. They need to publicly execute these bastards to show the world how serious they are about cleaning up
the corruption.
Who could have possibly seen this coming?
$40Million is 5 Thousand 155mm shells (current cost of 8k/shell according to American production numbers.)
Edit: Nothing like being wayy off on my ‘merths’ early sunday am. Its 5000 shells, not 5 million. The original point I had hoped to make was that while $40M seems like a great deal of money its about 1/6th of a SINGLE days usage bu the UAF of 155mm shells.
Traitors. Straight up.
Damn the second most corrupt country in Europe(after Russia) had government officials steal $40 Million in USD?!?!?!?
It takes a lot of effort and a long time to root out corruption. Ukraine are doing all the right things.
Other countries should take note.
Is this one group being turned in by a bigger, more powerful, corruption ring?
There will (and should) be literal heads rolling over this.
Which has cost god knows how many thousands of lives, in addition to a staggering amount of money.
Let me put it this way, Putin has already done *multiple* purges of his ranks due to similar shit.
*I* would send fucking goon squads after some of these clowns, if I were Zelensky. This is perhaps one of the few times it’s arguably warranted.
Shouldn’t be a shock, they’ve been the most corrupt country in europe for years now. I’d be surprised if even 50% of aid sent got to where it’s meant to go.
Gee, now this is a real shocker
This is peanuts. I seriously doubt the number is that low
what is it with ukraine and corruption?
Off to the front line you go
Execute the guilty, seize ALL of their assets (not just the stolen ones) and nationalize the munitions company.
Private industry NEVER looks out for the public good – that’s the core fallacy of libertarianism…which is more appropriately referred to as “libertopianism” because it’s bullshit utopian nonsense that doesn’t work in reality.
I’m absolutely shocked! You mean the country that has been consistently notorious for flagrant corruption??? Quick, give them $10,000,000,000 more!
Cut all funding.
This is laughable. Considering the amount of “aid” given to them, Do people really think this hasn’t been happening all along? I bet the number is far higher than 40 mil.
It was probably the 30’ish guy who was driving the super fancy Mercedes SUV that passed me on Autobahn 3 this afternoon. I thought “Now there’s a guy who would steal a lot of money and leave his county in a time of need”.
What do you think foreign aid is covering? Shit like this is why the US is having problems providing more aid and rightfully so if it is being embezzled away.
Shocking. Please let all the “you’re just a Russian bot if you do t support the war in Ukraine” accusers eat their words.
Ukraine was a corrupt shithole pre-2022. Good that this is exposed and will be handled more in standard with the Europeans.
Wow, corruption is uncovered in 2nd most corrupt government in the world. Who would’ve figured? Anyway, here’s another $100 billion to fight for freedom.
Ukraine has been riddled with corruption forever. The war didnt suddenly change that.