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9h ago

Ukraine Charges Six in Drone Graft After Restoring Anti-Corruption Agency Independence

Sworn-in watchdogs revealed a graft scheme in state defence contracts inflated by 30% for drones/electronic warfare systems, triggering arrests, court-imposed detentions

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FILE - 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)
ROME, ITALY - JULY 10: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference as part of the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 (URC2025) at Roma Convention Center La Nuvola, on July 10, 2025 in Rome, Italy. The fourth annual Ukraine Recovery Conference is taking place in Rome on July 10-11, bringing together governments and organizations from the international community committed to the long-term reconstruction of Ukraine, amid Russia's full-scale invasion. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)

Overview

  • Ukraine’s parliament voted unanimously on July 31 to restore autonomy to its top anti-corruption agencies, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
  • Within 48 hours of regaining independence, the agencies uncovered a graft scheme in defence procurement that inflated drone and electronic warfare contracts by up to 30 percent.
  • Initial operations led to the arrest of four individuals, including a ruling-party lawmaker, local officials and National Guard servicemembers, with charges later filed against six suspects.
  • On August 4, the High Anti-Corruption Court ordered 60-day pretrial detention for MP Oleksiy Kuznetsov and former governor Serhii Haidai, setting bail at UAH 8 million and UAH 10 million respectively.
  • President Volodymyr Zelenskiy lauded the investigations, and European Union officials underscored the importance of independent oversight for Ukraine’s EU accession and war-time support.