Ukraine Discovers Significant Corruption Scheme in Drone Procurement

Ukraine Discovers Significant Corruption Scheme in Drone Procurement


Ukrainian military personnel conduct a test flight of a drone prior to a mission in the Donetsk region on March 19. On Saturday, Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies announced they had uncovered a significant corruption scheme involving the procurement of military drones and signal jamming systems at inflated costs. This revelation came just two days after the restoration of the agencies' independence, following widespread protests. The parliament reinstated the autonomy of Ukraine's anti-corruption investigators and prosecutors, NABU and SAPO, on Thursday, after an attempt to curtail their powers triggered the largest demonstrations since Russia's invasion in 2022. In a joint statement shared on social media, NABU and SAPO reported that they had apprehended a sitting lawmaker, two local officials, and an undisclosed number of national guard personnel for accepting bribes, although their identities were not disclosed.

CNN