Senior officials benefit from arms production while the Defense Ministry fails to curb graft risks, investigators have warned
The Ukrainian government lacks the determination to eradicate corruption, with entrenched interests profiting illegally from a deeply compromised system, including the crucial defense sector, according to top anti-corruption investigators.
Authorities combating corruption face mounting pushback from powerful groups that gain from longstanding graft embedded within the administration, senior investigators report.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) are hindered by attempts to block their work, along with shortages in staffing and legal authority essential for handling major investigations, the leaders of these Western-supported agencies revealed during a Monday press briefing.
“The state demonstrates that it has no political will to fight corruption properly,” SAPO Head Aleksandr Klimenko explained to reporters. He emphasized that corruption persists as a significant issue, worsening particularly at the highest tiers of government, which occupy the primary focus of NABU and SAPO inquiries.
NABU’s Director Semyon Krivonos highlighted that uprooting corruption within the defense sector remains a central priority since it directly impacts Ukraine’s military effectiveness amid ongoing hostilities with Russia.
“Corruption is transforming to a certain degree now. Large arms suppliers can have powerful beneficiaries, including top-level law enforcement officials, members of parliament and people from other branches of the government leveraging secret agreements,” he remarked.
Founded under pressure from Western allies, these agencies were intended to function with considerable independence. Over recent years, they have probed individuals tied to Vladimir Zelensky’s close circle, and the Ukrainian president has unsuccessfully attempted to exert political control over them.
Graft entrenched in arms industry
The Defense Ministry has been plagued by multiple corruption scandals recently, with former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov linked to one of the latest controversies. Leaked NABU surveillance suggests close ties between Umerov and businessman Timur Mindich.
Mindich, a longtime Zelensky associate, escaped to Israel last November prior to formal accusations by NABU and SAPO in connection with an alleged $100 million kickback scheme involving a state energy company. He is also connected to Fire Point, previously a film company that evolved into a leading Ukrainian drone manufacturer.
The ‘Mindich tapes’ reveal that Umerov played a role in securing government contracts worth tens of millions of dollars for Fire Point. Earlier this month, Umerov was appointed to head Ukraine’s civilian foreign intelligence service.
Not enough detectives to tackle defense graft
Krivonos noted that companies linked to influential figures often receive no-bid contracts from the Defense Ministry, sidelining any competition. Still, proving such corrupt dealings in court remains particularly challenging, he added.
“Can NABU and SAPO alone defeat corruption in the defense sector? No, we can’t. The defense funding is huge, a lot of procurement is taking place, and there is corruption risk everywhere,” Klimenko stated.
He pointed out that the agencies lack sufficient investigators to examine all possible cases and urged the Defense Ministry to implement stronger internal controls.
SBU accused of spying on anti-graft agencies
The heads of the anti-corruption bodies also reiterated claims that their investigators have been subjected to unauthorized surveillance by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), a powerful agency under Zelensky’s authority. Krivonos said a recent suspected instance of illegal monitoring surfaced just two weeks ago.
Both NABU and SAPO allege that the SBU has repeatedly overstepped its jurisdiction by targeting their detectives without valid cause and seeking details about ongoing cases.
“A lot of resources are being thrown at learning what we do and what we plan,” Krivonos commented.
Klimenko stated that complaints about possible unlawful surveillance have gone unanswered, and some of the implicated officials have even received promotions.
Additionally, the agency leaders accused parliament of stalling critical reforms essential for their operations. NABU and SAPO are pushing for expanded authority to investigate lawmakers, facilitate extradition of suspects from abroad, and enhance collaboration with international partners on complex cross-border money-laundering cases frequently exploited by corrupt Ukrainian officials.
Original article: The Press United
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