Ukrainian soldiers on a Soviet-made T-72 tank in the Sumy region near the border with Russia on August 12, 2024, amid the armed incursion in Russia's Kursk province. PHOTO source: Roman PILIPEY / AFP / Profimedia
Affected by a corruption scandal in which one of his close associates is involved, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Saturday an audit aimed at the defense sector, AFP reports, taken over by Agerpres.
“A decision has been prepared on a comprehensive review of state-owned defense companies and related contracts,” Zelenskiy said on Telegram, promising that any “found violations will be forwarded to the authorities” responsible for fighting corruption.
This announcement comes in the context in which the Ukrainian presidency is affected by the revelation of a corruption scandal of almost 100 million dollars in the energy sector of Ukraine, already weakened by the Russian airstrikes.
According to anti-corruption authorities, the alleged mastermind of this embezzlement scheme is Timur Mindich, a close friend of Zelenskiy and his former business partner, who left Ukraine shortly before the scandal broke.
The case has reignited an internal political battle in Kiev, with Zelenskiy's main rival, former president Petro Poroshenko, this week calling for the resignation of the entire government.
On Saturday, Mindich and another suspect who is also wanted, Oleksandr Tsukherman, were added to Ukraine's wanted list, according to the Interior Ministry.
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A review of the supervisory boards of defense companies is also underway, according to Zelenski, as is an audit targeting the energy sector announced last week.
Ukraine has received more than 290 billion euros in military and financial aid from the United States and Europe since the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2022, according to the German Kiel Institute.
Several major scandals have erupted in the Ukrainian defense sector since the beginning of the war, including the embezzlement of funds related to the manufacture of shells, the purchase of uniforms and supplies for soldiers.
